Finance and Financial Management Services at Austin Peay State University

The standout feature here is the debt load—at $17,500, Austin Peay State finance graduates carry significantly less debt than their peers anywhere else. This program falls in the 95th percentile for low debt nationally and beats the Tennessee median by $3,000. For families worried about borrowing, that's a substantial advantage that shifts the entire return-on-investment calculation.

The earnings tell a more nuanced story. At $48,264, graduates earn slightly more than the Tennessee median ($45,325) and place in the 60th percentile statewide—respectable, though well below what Tennessee-Knoxville delivers. Nationally, these earnings sit lower at the 23rd percentile, but that comparison matters less when you're competing for jobs in Tennessee and keeping debt this manageable. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 is strong, meaning graduates would theoretically need just over four months of gross income to cover their entire student loan balance.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. But for Tennessee families seeking an affordable path to a finance degree without reaching for the competitive intensity of UT-Knoxville, Austin Peay State offers a pragmatic option. The combination of minimal debt and middle-of-the-pack Tennessee earnings creates a much safer financial floor than programs where students borrow twice as much for similar starting salaries.