Austin Peay State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Clarksville, Tennessee. It enrolls 7,560 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes20
Value89
Affordability84
Selectivity15
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.4%, Austin Peay State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.4%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
843 – 1126
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Austin Peay State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Austin Peay State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,735 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,735
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,006
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$14,766
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,430
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,098
Books & Supplies
$1,276
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,632
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,632
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,233
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,588
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,768
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,077
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,537
Over $110,000
$15,078
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,97710%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,547Medianpercentile
$25,73875%percentile
$38,13390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,250
↓ $6,297
No Pell $11,000
↓ $9,547
Dependent students $12,602
↓ $7,945
Independent students $14,583
↓ $5,964
Female students $13,500
↓ $7,047
Male students $12,787
↓ $7,760
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($20,547), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of full-time students who enrolled at Austin Peay State University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Austin Peay State University earn a median of $44,301 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,301
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,300, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Austin Peay State University is home to 7,560 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
7,560
Part-Time
27%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.9%3,769
Black 22.2%1,675
Hispanic 12.1%916
Other 6.9%522
International 2.2%167
Asian 2.0%149
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Austin Peay State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityClarksville, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential1,723 beds available
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Austin Peay State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
68 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Austin Peay State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,569
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$51M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,889
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
401 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
156
39%
$95,007
Associate Professors
76
19%
$78,727
Assistant Professors
132
33%
$69,175
Instructors
35
9%
$56,026
No Rank
2
0%
$69,598
Pros & Cons of Austin Peay State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Austin Peay State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Austin Peay State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Austin Peay State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Austin Peay State University.
Is Austin Peay State University hard to get into?
Austin Peay State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Austin Peay State University?
Austin Peay State University has an acceptance rate of 96.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Austin Peay State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Austin Peay State University scored between 843 and 1126 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Austin Peay State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Austin Peay State University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Austin Peay State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Austin Peay State University is $9,735 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Austin Peay State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,301 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,735 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Austin Peay State University known for?
Austin Peay State University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Kinesiology, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Austin Peay State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Austin Peay State University are $44,301, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Austin Peay State University accredited?
Yes. Austin Peay State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Austin Peay State University?
Austin Peay State University enrolls 7,560 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Austin Peay State University?
Austin Peay State University graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Austin Peay State University a public or private college?
Austin Peay State University is a Public institution.
Where is Austin Peay State University located?
Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee.
What programs does Austin Peay State University offer?
Austin Peay State University offers 68 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Kinesiology, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Austin Peay State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Austin Peay State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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