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Austin Peay State University

#1224 in US ranking Clarksville, TN
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$21,696
Tuition & fees
$9,384
Avg. aid
$9,742
Receiving aid
99%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
96%
SAT range
843–1126
ACT range
18–24

Outcomes

Graduation rate
40%
Median salary
$44,289
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Austin Peay State University?

Austin Peay State University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC, to award degrees. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is not a separate endorsement of every major.

That distinction is particularly important in fields leading to certification or licensure. Programs such as nursing, education, and business may have additional specialized accreditation or approval relevant to a student's goals. Applicants should check the current status of their specific program and, for licensed professions, the rules of the state in which they plan to practice.

Institutional accreditation is an important condition for participation in federal student aid programs. It can also matter when students seek to transfer credits or enter graduate study, but neither accreditation nor completion of a course guarantees that another institution will accept particular credits.

What are the admission requirements at Austin Peay State University?

First-year applicants generally apply through Austin Peay's undergraduate admissions process and submit a high school transcript showing graduation, or an accepted high school equivalency credential. The university considers secondary-school academic records and GPA; it does not operate an open-admission policy.

Institutional admissions reporting characterizes SAT and ACT scores as considered but not required for general admission. Applicants should nevertheless check current rules for scholarships, placement, or a particular academic program before deciding whether to send scores. School rank, recommendations, and completion of a designated college-preparatory program are not listed as general requirements in the reported admissions criteria. Among enrolled first-time students who submitted an ACT score, the reported median composite score was 21; that is a description of score submitters, not a minimum for admission.

Austin Peay admitted 6,104 of 6,331 first-time applicants in the reported admissions cycle, an acceptance rate of about 96%. A high admission rate does not remove transcript, eligibility, or program-specific requirements. International applicants may also need to document English proficiency; reported criteria identify TOEFL as a required measure. Application dates and document deadlines can vary by term and applicant category, so applicants should use the admissions instructions for their intended entry term.

What are the application fees and waivers at Austin Peay State University?

The reported undergraduate application fee for Austin Peay is $25. An application fee is paid to process an application; it is distinct from tuition, housing charges, and any later enrollment costs.

Applicants who may qualify for a fee waiver should determine how to request one before paying or submitting an application that requires payment. Eligibility and procedures can depend on applicant category or a designated application promotion, and a paid fee should not be assumed refundable. Transfer, graduate, and international applicants should check the instructions attached to their own application rather than assume every category uses the same fee.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Austin Peay State University?

Austin Peay has an Army ROTC unit on campus. Reported ROTC arrangements also identify an Air Force ROTC opportunity through a cooperating host institution, rather than an Air Force unit operated on the Austin Peay campus.

That difference can affect travel, class scheduling, and where leadership training takes place. Students considering Air Force ROTC should confirm the current host arrangement and cross-enrollment process before building a semester schedule. ROTC participation, scholarship eligibility, and commissioning are separate decisions: scholarships have their own selection requirements, and accepting one or entering the commissioning track can carry a military service obligation. Applicants should obtain the applicable branch's current terms before committing.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Austin Peay State University?

Austin Peay accepts transfer applicants and generally considers college credit from other accredited institutions. Transfer students can enter in fall, spring, or summer, subject to the deadlines and course availability for their intended program.

Applicants should submit official transcripts from each college attended and check whether their previous credit history also triggers a high school transcript requirement. Admission to the university and acceptance of individual courses toward a major are different decisions: a course may transfer as elective credit without replacing a required course. GPA standards and additional admission rules can apply to particular programs.

Austin Peay reports accepting several forms of assessed learning for possible credit, including CLEP, DSST/DANTES, and credit evaluated under American Council on Education recommendations. Tennessee transfer pathways may also help students moving from participating community colleges, but students should compare a pathway against their intended major's current degree plan. An official credit evaluation and a degree audit provide a more useful answer than a general assurance that credits transfer.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Austin Peay State University?

Austin Peay offers routes to study abroad through international education programming, including opportunities that may involve faculty-led travel or study arranged with partner programs. The length, destination, and academic credit available depend on the particular offering.

Students should obtain academic approval before paying for a program: the important question is not simply whether a trip awards credit, but whether that credit meets a major, general education, or elective requirement. A short faculty-led course may be easier to fit around a tightly sequenced degree than a semester abroad. Financial aid, scholarships, passport and visa costs, and program fees should be reviewed separately because ordinary campus expenses do not necessarily describe the cost of studying overseas.

Austin Peay State University Admissions Factors

SAT range
843–1126
4001600
ACT range
18–24
136
Acceptance rate
96%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
96%
Tennessee
71%
US
78%

27% of admitted students enrolled (1,677 of 6,104)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 6-11
ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Austin Peay State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 6,331
Admission
Total: 6,104
Enrolled
Total: 1,677
Women
Men

How to Apply to Austin Peay State University

Regular application deadline

August 5

Application fee

$25

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Austin Peay State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,488
Out-of-state: 178

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,677
Transfer: 695

Austin Peay State University Admission Requirements

Median composite ACT score

21

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

53%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

1%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Neither required nor recommended

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Disabilities services

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Austin Peay State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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