Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Austin Peay State University

Based on comparable programs across Tennessee, a teaching degree in a specific subject area would leave graduates with roughly $25,600 in debt and first-year earnings around $40,100—numbers that align closely with both state and national medians for this field. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 suggests graduates would owe about 8 months' salary, a manageable burden that could be paid down within standard 10-year federal loan terms.

What's harder to gauge is where Austin Peay specifically sits within Tennessee's teaching market. Peer programs in the state show substantial variation, with some private schools pushing graduates closer to $45,000 while others trail significantly. The estimate here mirrors Tennessee's state median exactly, offering no clear signal about whether Austin Peay's connections to local school districts or student teaching placements give it an advantage over alternatives like Memphis or regional private colleges.

The practical reality: if your child plans to teach in Tennessee public schools, starting salaries will largely be determined by district pay scales rather than which college name appears on the diploma. The estimated debt load won't be crushing, but given that nearly half of Austin Peay's students receive Pell grants, understand that your child's actual borrowing could differ substantially from this median figure. If keeping debt low is essential, verify the school's typical financial aid packages for your family's specific situation before committing.