Psychology at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay's psychology program delivers middling results that fall short of both national standards and what many Tennessee schools achieve. Starting at $28,705—below both the national and state medians—graduates land in the bottom third nationally, though they perform closer to average among Tennessee programs (40th percentile). While some might find comfort in the relatively manageable $25,000 debt load, the low initial earnings make even this moderate debt significant, requiring nearly a full year's salary to repay.

The 17% earnings growth to $33,656 by year four offers modest improvement but doesn't fundamentally change the picture. Compare this to what's achievable at other Tennessee schools: Rhodes graduates start at $37,563, and even Middle Tennessee State—another public university—produces median earnings of $32,433. These aren't elite private schools with prohibitive price tags; they're realistic alternatives that deliver substantially better outcomes.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: you're looking at below-average starting pay with debt that takes nearly a year to repay, while accessible alternatives in Tennessee consistently deliver $4,000-$9,000 more in starting salary. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend Austin Peay specifically—location, specific faculty, or unique circumstances—psychology students have better options within the state that offer meaningfully stronger returns on the same four-year investment.