Head-to-head comparison
Austin Peay State University vs Nashville Auto-Diesel College: which has better ROI?
Option A Clarksville, TN
Austin Peay State University
- Net price / year
- $9,735
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,301
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Nashville, TN
Nashville Auto-Diesel College
- Net price / year
- $32,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,396
- Payback
- No payback
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 $46,396 at Nashville Auto-Diesel College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Austin Peay State University | Nashville Auto-Diesel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,735 | $32,544 |
| Total net cost | $38,940 | $130,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,301 | $46,396 |
| Median debt | $20,547 | $11,730 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$120,120 | -$169,456 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Austin Peay State University or Nashville Auto-Diesel College?
Austin Peay State University, at $9,735 a year after aid versus $32,544 — a gap of $22,809 a year, or $91,236 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Austin Peay State University or Nashville Auto-Diesel College graduates earn more?
Nashville Auto-Diesel College graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $2,095 more than the $44,301 at Austin Peay State University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Austin Peay State University or Nashville Auto-Diesel College?
Nashville Auto-Diesel College: its completers carry a median $11,730 in federal loans versus $20,547 at Austin Peay State University, a difference of $8,817. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Nashville Auto-Diesel 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.