Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Austin Peay State University at a Glance
Austin Peay State University is a public university in Clarksville, Tennessee, United States. Standing on a site occupied by a succession of educational institutions since 1845, the precursor of the university was established in 1927 and named for then-sitting Governor Austin Peay, who is further honored with "Governors", the name of the university's athletic teams. Affiliated with the Tennessee Board of Regents, it is now governed by the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees as of May …
1927
99 years old
$79M
$79.3 million
9,945
8,587 undergrad · 1,358 grad
550
182 acres
Identity
Is Austin Peay State University Worth It?
Austin Peay State University offers moderate value at $9,735/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $44,301, which is 18% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 42% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 96% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How Austin Peay State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #41 of 150 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #3 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #4 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #41 | Austin Peay State University | 48 | $9,735 | $44,301 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Austin Peay State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in TN.
Best Programs at Austin Peay State University
The highest-earning program at Austin Peay State University is Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at $59,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $17,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions graduate from Austin Peay State University earns $59,800, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $17,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions graduates carry $15,301 in median debt vs. $26,000 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,735/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $59,800 | $59,800 | $15,301 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $53,200 | $53,200 | $22,437 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $48,200 | $48,200 | $25,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $35,100 | $35,100 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $34,700 | $34,700 | $21,464 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $34,000 | $34,000 | $23,250 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $33,600 | $33,600 | N/A |
| History | $31,700 | $31,700 | $25,250 |
| Mathematics | $30,700 | $30,700 | $24,464 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $30,400 | $30,400 | $27,879 |
| Social Work | $29,900 | $29,900 | $26,375 |
| Sociology | $26,900 | $26,900 | $32,274 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,800 | $26,800 | $22,937 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,500 | $26,500 | $23,348 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,000 | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Psychology, General | $25,300 | $25,300 | $24,689 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,100 | $25,100 | $27,035 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,500 | $24,500 | $25,937 |
| Agriculture, General | $23,600 | $23,600 | $24,750 |
| Biology, General | $21,800 | $21,800 | $16,800 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $17,000 | $17,000 | $26,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Clarksville, TN
- Student Body
- 7,560 students
- Admission Rate
- 96%
- Graduation Rate
- 42%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,735
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $44,301
- Median Student Debt
- $20,547