South College vs Austin Peay State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Austin Peay State University comes closer — median earnings $44,301 against a $38,940 total, vs $36,642 at South College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South College | Austin Peay State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,858 | $9,735 |
| Total net cost | $35,716 | $38,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,642 | $44,301 |
| Median debt | $18,668 | $20,547 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$270,076 | -$120,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South College or Austin Peay State University?
Austin Peay State University, at $9,735 a year after aid versus $17,858 — a gap of $8,123 a year, or $3,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South College or Austin Peay State University graduates earn more?
Austin Peay State University graduates report a median $44,301 ten years after entry, $7,659 more than the $36,642 at South College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, South College or Austin Peay State University?
South College: its completers carry a median $18,668 in federal loans versus $20,547 at Austin Peay State University, a difference of $1,879. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at South College, against 40% at Austin Peay State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.