Head-to-head comparison
Austin Peay State University vs Volunteer State 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 Gallatin, TN
Volunteer State Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,802
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,150
- 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 $41,150 at Volunteer State Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Austin Peay State University | Volunteer State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,735 | $7,802 |
| Total net cost | $38,940 | $15,604 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,301 | $41,150 |
| Median debt | $20,547 | $7,550 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$120,120 | -$159,804 |
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 Volunteer State Community College?
Volunteer State Community College, at $7,802 a year after aid versus $9,735 — a gap of $1,933 a year, or $23,336 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 Volunteer State Community College graduates earn more?
Austin Peay State University graduates report a median $44,301 ten years after entry, $3,151 more than the $41,150 at Volunteer State 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 leaves students with less debt, Austin Peay State University or Volunteer State Community College?
Volunteer State Community College: its completers carry a median $7,550 in federal loans versus $20,547 at Austin Peay State University, a difference of $12,997. 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 28% at Volunteer State 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.