Austin Peay State University
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 2017. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and, in 2012, was the fastest-growing university in Tennessee. In 2025, Austin Peay State University hit 11,185 registered students for the Fall semester.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 96%
- Average net price: $9,882
- Undergraduate enrollment: 10,073
- Graduation rate (150%): 39%
- Graduation rate (200%): 41%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 49%
- Student to faculty ratio: 14:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $44,301
- Median earnings (8 years): $41,659
- Median earnings (6 years): $38,779
- Control: Public
- Locale: City, midsize
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Clarksville, TN
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Austin Peay State University include Nursing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education.
- Nursing (143 bachelor's) · median earnings $73,564 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,365
- Liberal Arts and Sciences (94 bachelor's) · median earnings $48,177 4 years after graduation · median debt $19,000
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education (93 bachelor's) · median earnings $45,080 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,215
- Psychology (93 bachelor's) · median earnings $41,303 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,500
- Criminal Justice (80 bachelor's) · median earnings $53,376 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,090
- Business Administration and Management (70 bachelor's) · median earnings $55,567 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,250
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (67 bachelor's) · median earnings $46,900 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,000
- Art (53 bachelor's) · median earnings $33,880 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,964
- Marketing (52 bachelor's) · median earnings $53,734 4 years after graduation · median debt $19,178
- Biology (48 bachelor's) · median earnings $48,991 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,250
Degree mix: Business 29%, Engineering 0%, Computer Science 14%, Health 33%, Biological Sciences 6%, Psychology 12%, Communication 6%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Austin Peay State University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $7,588 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $7,588
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $8,768
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $10,077
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $13,537
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $15,078
- In-state tuition and fees: $9,006
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $14,766
- Books and supplies: $1,276
- On-campus room and board: $13,430
- Off-campus room and board: $14,098
- Off-campus with family: $3,632
- Typical cost of attendance: $22,233
- Sticker vs net gap: 56%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 43%
- Federal loan recipients: 34%
- Average institutional grant: $3,062
- Average federal loan: $6,521
- Median debt at graduation: $20,547
Admissions
Austin Peay State University admits 96% of applicants. Of students admitted, 27% enrolled.
- Applications: 6,331
- Admitted: 6,104
- Enrolled: 1,677
- Yield (first-choice signal): 27%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 10,073
- Women: 60%
- Commuter share (estimated): 83%
- Part-time undergraduates: 27%
- Age 25 and older: 24%
- Graduate students: 1,031
- Graduation rate: 39%
- Come back after freshman year: 70%
- First-generation: 40%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 58%
- Student to faculty: 14:1
- Professor salary: $97,695
- Associate professor salary: $81,578
- Assistant professor salary: $70,219
- On-campus housing capacity: 1,718
- Average SAT: 1,005
- Average ACT: 21
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Austin Peay State University acceptance rate? Austin Peay State University admits 96% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Austin Peay State University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $7,588 a year after aid. Average net price is $9,882.
What majors does Austin Peay State University offer? Popular programs include Nursing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education, Psychology, Criminal Justice.
What is the average salary after Austin Peay State University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,301 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Austin Peay State University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 49% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 39%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Austin Peay State University official site: https://www.apsu.edu.