Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, Tennessee · Public · 96.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 36/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee has an ROI score of 36 (Below Benchmark), and the data supports that rating without ambiguity. Average six-year earnings are $31,400, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.654 reflects a mismatch between what students borrow and what they earn. The payback period is 19.2 years. At 7,560 students and a 96.4% acceptance rate, this is an open-access regional public serving Clarksville and the Fort Campbell military corridor. Pell rate of 43.5% reflects a substantially lower-income student body. The best programs are Registered Nursing (121 graduates, $68,235 starting, B grade) and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science (49 graduates, $70,028 starting, B+ grade). Students who complete health-sciences tracks get reasonable outcomes relative to the low net price. But the majority of students are not in those tracks - they are in business, criminal justice, kinesiology, and liberal arts programs that deliver D or F-grade ROI outcomes.
How Austin Peay State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score36/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period19.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Austin Peay State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,006/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,766/yr |
| Average net price | $9,735/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $38,940 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,301 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,547 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $218 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,560 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,006/year ($14,766/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $9,735/year, or roughly $38,940 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,588/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,078/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,547, which works out to about $218 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,400) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,588 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,768 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,077 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,537 |
| $110,001+ | $15,078 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $7,588 per year - a very accessible price point for a four-year degree. At that cost, even the school's weaker programs start to look defensible on a pure dollar basis. The challenge is completion: only 40.2% of students finish. Low-income students who complete and pursue health-sciences tracks have a reasonable financial outcome, but the completion risk is the primary concern.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $8,768 and the 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $10,077. Cost is low and relatively flat through the middle-income range. The 75,001-110,000 bracket reaches $13,537 - still well below the national average net price. For middle-income families, Austin Peay is low-cost, but the 19.2-year payback period signals that even affordable tuition does not fix weak earnings outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $15,078 - near-full cost for this school. At that price, the value case is purely about outcomes. With a 19.2-year payback and average 6-year earnings of $31,400, Austin Peay is not a good fit for high-income families unless the student is specifically targeting nursing or allied health and understands the completion risk.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Austin Peay State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $45,080 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $48,177 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $73,564 | B |
| Psychology | $41,303 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,376 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $55,567 | C |
| Teacher Education | $46,900 | C |
| Marketing | $53,734 | D |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $75,261 | B+ |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $79,309 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Austin Peay's strongest financial program at 121 graduates per year. Starting pay of $68,235 and four-year earnings of $73,564 give a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.404 (B grade). Median debt of $27,576 is higher relative to the low cost of attendance - suggesting some students borrow beyond tuition to cover living expenses - but still manageable against nursing wages.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
With 49 graduates per year, this is a smaller but high-performing program. Starting pay of $70,028 and four-year earnings of $75,261 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.326 (B+ grade). The B+ grade ROI at this price point is notable - Austin Peay's low cost of attendance makes health-science outcomes look considerably better than they would at a higher-cost school. Students considering lab science careers should look seriously at this program.
Computer Systems Analysis
Computer Systems Analysis graduates 26 students per year with starting pay of $65,084 and four-year earnings of $76,824. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.373 earns a B grade. This program serves a specific niche: IT analysis, systems integration, and data management roles. The small graduate count limits generalizations, but the earnings signal is strong.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 55.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Austin Peay State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 398-553 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 445-573 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 7,560 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,044 |
Austin Peay accepts 96.4% of applicants. SAT scores of 398-553 Math, 445-573 Reading, ACT 18-24 signal a broad-access mission. The school does not screen on academic preparation in any meaningful way. With a 40.2% completion rate, the attrition challenge is substantial, and students should go in understanding that most of their entering cohort will not finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The honest framing is that Austin Peay is a regional access school where financial outcomes depend heavily on program choice, and most program choices at this school do not generate strong financial returns.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay State University (this school) | 36 | $9,735 | $44,301 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | 37 | $18,256 | $47,295 |
| East Tennessee State University | 35 | $15,983 | $44,859 |
| The University of Montana | 33 | $16,784 | $44,511 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | 16 | $12,798 | $38,924 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Austin Peay State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students score ACT 18-24, reflecting the broad access mission. Pell rate is 43.5%. Students who succeed here tend to have a clear vocational goal - nursing, lab science, or allied health - and the flexibility to persist through a regional commuter-school environment.
Transfer Pathways
Students transferring in with associate degrees or prior credits have a better completion profile than direct-entry freshmen.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Austin Peay State University scores 36/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $9,735 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $44,301 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 19.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 40.2% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,547 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Austin Peay State University: Common Questions
Is Austin Peay State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Austin Peay State University scores 36/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $9,735 a year after aid against $44,301 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 19.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Austin Peay State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,735 a year, or roughly $38,940 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Austin Peay State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,301 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,501 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Austin Peay State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 19.2 years for Austin Peay State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Austin Peay State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,547, against average earnings of $31,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Austin Peay State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 40.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.