Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State grads with this associate's degree earn more than 75% of similar programs nationwide—but they're paying nearly double the typical debt to get there. At $17,500 in loans versus a national median of $10,950, students here face the highest debt burden among Tennessee's 33 liberal arts associate programs, where the state median is just $8,750.

The higher borrowing does translate to stronger earnings: first-year graduates earn $30,708, outpacing both the national median ($27,248) and Tennessee's ($26,438), placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. Earnings climb 22% by year four to $37,417, suggesting decent career momentum. However, Nashville State delivers comparable starting salaries ($29,280) with presumably lower debt, making Austin Peay's premium harder to justify.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 means graduates owe just over half their first year's income—manageable but higher than ideal for an associate's degree. For students who can access Tennessee's community college system with its lower costs, this program's financial trade-off deserves scrutiny. The earnings advantage exists but may not offset the additional borrowing for many families, especially given the state's 96% admission rate suggests accessibility isn't an issue elsewhere.