Austin Peay State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Austin Peay State University charges a net price of $9,735/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $38,940. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,301, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Austin Peay State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #27 of 91 Tennessee colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,735/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $38,940 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,301 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,059/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,547 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$120,120 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Austin Peay State University's own numbers. Net price $9,735 × 4 years = $38,940 total. Median earnings $44,301 fall $4,059 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $38,940 bill in about 3.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Austin Peay State University students graduate with?
A median $20,547 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $44,301 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Austin Peay State University students graduate?
40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $38,940 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $97,350 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Austin Peay State University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $9,735 net price runs $5,534 below the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, and $22,136 less across the full degree.