Head-to-head comparison
Austin Peay State University vs Southwest Tennessee Community 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 Memphis, TN
Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,754
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,071
- 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 $34,071 at Southwest Tennessee Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Austin Peay State University | Southwest Tennessee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,735 | $4,754 |
| Total net cost | $38,940 | $9,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,301 | $34,071 |
| Median debt | $20,547 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$120,120 | -$295,288 |
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 Southwest Tennessee Community College?
Southwest Tennessee Community College, at $4,754 a year after aid versus $9,735 — a gap of $4,981 a year, or $29,432 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates earn more?
Austin Peay State University graduates report a median $44,301 ten years after entry, $10,230 more than the $34,071 at Southwest Tennessee Community 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Austin Peay State University, against 19% at Southwest Tennessee Community College. 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.