Head-to-head comparison
Austin Peay State University vs Tennessee State University: 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
Tennessee State University
- Net price / year
- $15,796
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,730
- 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 $42,730 at Tennessee State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Austin Peay State University | Tennessee State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,735 | $15,796 |
| Total net cost | $38,940 | $63,184 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,301 | $42,730 |
| Median debt | $20,547 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$120,120 | -$175,784 |
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 Tennessee State University?
Austin Peay State University, at $9,735 a year after aid versus $15,796 — a gap of $6,061 a year, or $24,244 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 Tennessee State University graduates earn more?
Austin Peay State University graduates report a median $44,301 ten years after entry, $1,571 more than the $42,730 at Tennessee 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 Tennessee State University?
Austin Peay State University: its completers carry a median $20,547 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Tennessee State University, a difference of $6,453. 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?
40% of students finish at Austin Peay State University, against 34% at Tennessee 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.