Austin Peay State University is a open-access public four-year college in Clarksville, TN, focused on bachelor’s-level study with an urban campus setting, with about 7,560 undergraduates, an acceptance rate of about 96.4%, typical net price of $9,735 after grants, first-year retention of 70.0%, about 40.2% of students graduating within six years, and median earnings of $38,779 six years after enrollment.

Grade for Austin Peay State University

Letter grades from Best Universities methodology. Overall grade blends the categories below for schools in that ranking cohort.

Overall grade

C

Best Universities compares this school with national benchmarks for similar institutions.

How are grades calculated?

Affordability
B+

$9,735Average net price

Outcomes
D

40.2%Graduation rate

Career
F

$38,779Median earnings, 6 years after entry

Economic Access
B+

43.5%Pell Grant recipient share

Key facts for Austin Peay State University

Tuition (in-state)
$9,006
Tuition (out-of-state)
$14,766
Total cost of attendance
$22,233
Average net price
$9,735
Acceptance rate
96.4%
Total enrollment
7,560
Graduation rate
40.2%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$38,779

Key rankings for Austin Peay State University

Where Austin Peay State University ranks among four-year colleges nationwide on selected cost and outcome measures. Rank 1 is best on that measure (lowest cost or debt; highest earnings, retention, or graduation). These are single-measure standings, not Best Universities list placement.

#160 of 1,811

Net Price

#1,325 of 1,816

Earnings

#1,257 of 1,808

Retention

#1,409 of 1,850

Graduation

#522 of 1,767

Debt

What stands out at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN is a four-year college where bachelor’s-level study is the main focus.

  • Midsize city
  • 7,560 undergraduates
Average net price$9,735
Acceptance rate96.4%
Pell Grant recipient share43.5%
Graduation rate40.2%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$38,779
First-year retention70.0%

Average net price after aid runs below the national median for similar schools, but six-year earnings also trail that median. Families should weigh aid, majors, and local job markets together.

Both first-year retention and graduation sit below national benchmarks for similar schools. Counselors often explore that pattern with the college’s advising, financial aid, and completion programs.

Admission is relatively open compared with similar schools while Pell Grant use runs high—together that suggests a broadly accessible undergraduate population in these figures.

Best Universities methodology explains how grades and ranked-list placements are calculated.

Student measures: Cost, completion, earnings, retention, and debt.

Institution context: Enrollment, demographics, faculty, setting, and admissions.

At a glance

Cost, outcomes & access at Austin Peay State University

Two related measures side by side for a quick scan.

Net Price and Earnings

Average net price (after aid)
$9,735
Median earnings 6 years after entry
$38,779

Retention and Graduation

First-year retention
70.0%
Graduation rate (within 6 years)
40.2%

Acceptance and Pell Grant Share

Acceptance rate
96.4%
Undergraduate Pell recipient share
43.5%
Total cost and tuition

Annual figures on one dollar scale, so bar lengths are comparable within this chart. Total cost of attendance covers tuition, fees, and living costs. Listed tuition is the price before aid; average net price is what students paid after grants and scholarships.

Total cost of attendance$22,233
Listed tuition (in-state)$9,006
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$14,766
Room and board (on campus)$13,430
Average net price (after aid)$9,735

In-state tuition is below the national median of $19,284 for similar four-year colleges, while out-of-state tuition is below the national median of $26,816.

Average net price by family income

Average net price by family income for full-time, first-time undergraduates.

$0–$30k$7,588
$30k–$48k$8,768
$48k–$75k$10,077
$75k–$110k$13,537
$110k+$15,078

How Austin Peay State University compares

Figures are for four-year colleges. State, region, and national columns use the middle value (median) for similar schools; retention uses averages for region and nation. Region shown: Southeast (region 5).

This school vs state, regional, and national benchmarks

Net price

This school$9,735
State (TN)$18,878
Region$18,796
National$19,923

Earnings, 6 years

This school$38,779
State (TN)$42,209
Region$39,566
National$45,225

Retention

This school70.0%
State (TN)74.9%
Region71.9%
National74.9%

Graduation

This school40.2%
State (TN)52.5%
Region48.8%
National54.4%

Median debt

This school$20,547
State (TN)$21,500
Region$24,053
National$23,250

Swipe sideways to compare state, region, and national figures.

Measure This school State (TN) Region Nation
Net price$9,735Below national median$18,878$18,796$19,923
Earnings, 6 years$38,779Below national median$42,209$39,566$45,225
Retention70.0%Below national median74.9%71.9%74.9%
Graduation40.2%Below national median52.5%48.8%54.4%
Acceptance rate96.4%Above national median70.1%74.3%77.0%
Pell share43.5%Above national median32.5%37.9%33.9%
Median debt$20,547Below national median$21,500$24,053$23,250
3-year cohort default rate0.0%About the same0.0%0.0%0.0%

Recent 3-year cohort default rates are near zero because of the federal student loan payment pause and are not useful for school-to-school comparison.

Campus & institution details for Austin Peay State University

Campus settingMidsize city
Official websitewww.apsu.edu/
Student–faculty ratio14:1
Full-time faculty100.0%
Avg monthly faculty salary$9,044

Share of undergraduates in each group. Gender and race or ethnicity are reported separately, so each set totals about 100%.

Women58.6%
Men41.4%
Black or African American22.2%
Hispanic / Latino12.1%
White49.9%
Asian2.0%
Two or more races6.4%
International students2.2%

Confirm program details and current staffing on the college website.

Frequently asked questions about Austin Peay State University

Common questions about Austin Peay State University, answered with Best Universities cost and outcome figures. For how we rank schools, use the methodology link in the header; for deadlines and aid, rely on the college’s official site.

Where is Austin Peay State University located?

Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, TN. If the college has more than one campus, confirm addresses and program locations on the school's official site or with the admissions office.

What kind of school is Austin Peay State University?

Austin Peay State University is a public four-year college. Best Universities compares it with similar four-year institutions for ranking and benchmark purposes.

How much does it cost to attend Austin Peay State University (tuition and net price)?

Listed sticker tuition is $9,006 for in-state students and $14,766 for out-of-state students. Average net price (typical annual cost after grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduates) is about $9,735. Your actual net price depends on income, residency, and aid.

What is Austin Peay State University's acceptance rate?

The overall undergraduate acceptance rate is about 96.4% for the year shown. Selectivity can vary by program or campus; check admissions for the path you care about.

How large is Austin Peay State University's undergraduate student body?

Undergraduate enrollment is about 7,560. Enrollment changes over time and may span multiple campuses depending on how the school reports.

What are completion and earnings outcomes for Austin Peay State University?

Median earnings six years after entry at Austin Peay State University are roughly $38,779. Outcomes vary widely by major, occupation, and region. About 40.2% of students graduate on time or soon after. Individual trajectories differ from these population-level measures.

How does Best Universities rank Austin Peay State University?

Among similar schools nationwide, Austin Peay State University stands as follows on selected measures: Average net price (#160 of 1,811); Median earnings, 6 years after entry (#1,325 of 1,816); First-year retention (#1,257 of 1,808); Graduation rate (#1,409 of 1,850); Median loan debt (#522 of 1,767). Those are single-measure ranks, not a single overall list place. See the methodology page for how Best Universities builds ranked lists.

Where should I go for admissions and official information about Austin Peay State University?

For application deadlines, requirements, campus visits, and program lists, use Austin Peay State University’s official website. Best Universities publishes cost and outcome figures for comparison; it does not replace the institution’s admissions or financial aid office.

All figures for Austin Peay State University Expand to view

A fuller table of the figures Best Universities uses for this school. Useful if you are double-checking a number.

All figures for Austin Peay State University
FieldValue
InstitutionAustin Peay State University
Official websitewww.apsu.edu/
City, stateClarksville, TN
School typeFour-year college
Undergraduate enrollment7,560
Listed tuition (in-state)$9,006
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$14,766
Listed tuition (generic)$9,006
Total cost of attendance$22,233
Room and board (on campus)$13,430
Average net price$9,735
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$38,779
Median earnings, 8 years after entry$41,659
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$44,301
Median loan debt$20,547
3-year cohort default rate0.0%
First-year retention70.0%
Graduation rate (4-year programs)40.2%
Graduation rate (shorter programs)Not reported
Acceptance rate96.4%
SAT average1,088
ACT average21
Pell Grant share43.5%
Share with federal loans34.1%
Part-time enrollment share27.4%
Campus settingMidsize city
Student–faculty ratio14
Avg monthly faculty salary$9,044
Full-time faculty share100.0%
Online onlyNo
HBCUNo
SAT midpoint, MathNot reported
SAT midpoint, Reading & WritingNot reported
Share of undergraduates, women58.6%
Share of undergraduates, men41.4%
Share of undergraduates, Black22.2%
Share of undergraduates, Hispanic12.1%
Share of undergraduates, White49.9%
Share of undergraduates, Asian2.0%
Share of undergraduates, two or more races6.4%
Share of undergraduates, international2.2%
Net price, family income $0–30k$7,588
Net price, family income $30–48k$8,768
Net price, family income $48–75k$10,077
Net price, family income $75–110k$13,537
Net price, family income $110k+$15,078

Sources for Austin Peay State University

Figures from the same school data Best Universities uses for rankings. Shortlist with them, then verify on the college’s official site.