Business/Commerce, General at Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
57
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,699/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 15.0x earnings multiple (9.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #185 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Commerce, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $524K $522K $484K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.1x 15.0x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.2x 9.2x 8.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 57 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,700
Out-of-state: $56,876 (9.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,384
-71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
8.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,396
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $35,699 per year, Business/Commerce, General graduates from Austin Peay State University earn below the $48,211 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 15.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$35,699 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #185 out of 242 programs, Austin Peay State University's financial outcomes for Business/Commerce, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,699 to $51,396 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Austin Peay State University

With 96% of applicants admitted, Austin Peay State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 7,365 in Clarksville, TN. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Austin Peay State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business/Commerce, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Austin Peay State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Austin Peay State University's Business/Commerce, General program score?
A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Austin Peay State University trails the majority of Business/Commerce, General programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Business/Commerce, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business/Commerce, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Business/Commerce, General earnings lower at Austin Peay State University?
Lower starting pay at Austin Peay State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →