Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University International Student Insurance

Austin Peay State University (APSU), located in Clarksville, Tennessee, was established in 1927. Its campus and grounds were previously home to educational institutions like the Mt. Pleasant Academy, Clarksville Academy, Masonic College, and Southwestern Presbyterian University. It was founded as a junior college and teacher-training institution. In 1939, it was authorized to offer classes leading to a bachelor of science degree, the first of which was awarded in 1942. It gained the right to confer bachelor of arts degrees in 1951 and to offer graduate education in 1952. The school gained university status in 1967. Today, APSU enrolls more than 11,000 students and counting each year. The school colors are red and white, and its athletic nickname is the Governors.

Academic Offerings

Austin Peay State University offers more than 50 bachelor’s programs and more than 20 master’s programs across its six academic divisions: the College of Arts and Letters; the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences; the College of Business; the Eriksson College of Education; the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and the College of Graduate Studies. The school also gained in approval in 2018 to offer a Doctor of Education degree, the school’s first doctoral program.

On Campus

The university is home to two Centers of Excellence as established by the Tennessee General Assembly. The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at APSU opened in 1985, and the Center of Excellence for Field Biology opened a year later in 1986. Austin Peay is also the state’s largest provider of higher education opportunities to military-affiliated students. The campus operates a Veterans Education Transition Support program, as well as a full-time Veterans Affairs Counselor on campus. 

Other points of interest on campus include the Foy Fitness and Recreation Center; several campus dining and residence halls; and the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall, which has gained distinction for its acoustic qualities and ranked as one of the nation’s top ten music venues.

Notable Alumni

Notable Austin Peay State University alumni include musician Josh Rouse; Peak Fitness founder Jeff Stec; artist Verner White; U.S. Army Colonel and author David Hackworth; and numerous professional athletes from the MLB, NBA, and NFL.

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