Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) student Yvette Anderson didn’t want to spend another winter in the Midwest, with its fierce winds, freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.
The Indianapolis-native had dreams of milder weather, so when she heard a school in Clarksville, Tennessee, was actively recruiting students from other states, she decided to give it a look.
Shortly after talking with a recruiter, Anderson enrolled at Austin Peay State University.
“The school was diverse, just the right size and had plenty of fun opportunities,” she said. “I absolutely love Austin Peay. I feel like it was the best school for me in all aspects. I have made lifetime friendships and feel very at home four hours from my hometown.”
This year, Anderson saw a growing number of non-Tennesseans joining her on campus, thanks to the University drastically cutting its out-of-state tuition. Previously, students living outside of Tennessee paid about $11,000 per semester, but the new rate nearly cuts that amount in half to just under $6,200 for 12 credit hours.
Dr. Rex Gandy, APSU provost, recommended the 43.5 percent out-of-state tuition reduction last year as a way of improving diversity at the regional university.
“The majority of our students are from the Clarksville-Montgomery County area,” he said. “It’s important for us to attract students from other states who bring different perspectives, culture and knowledge to our campus.”
Austin Peay’s tuition rates are now lower than what some universities in other states offer in-state residents. When potential students visit campus, they’re often surprised by what the picturesque university has to offer.
“I love the atmosphere,” Anderson said. “The campus is so gorgeous; the people are so kind and there are tons of streams of support in all aspects of campus life.”
Austin Peay State University is one of the fastest-growing universities in Tennessee, with enrollment increasing eight percent over the last five years while other schools struggled to find students.
In recent years, APSU students have secured highly competitive internships at places such as Twitter and Tesla, and this fall, Austin Peay State University will host the world-premiere of a new play by Oscar- (“Moonstruck”) and Pulitzer Prize-winning (“Doubt”) writer John Patrick Shanley.
To find out more about the University and its out-of-state offerings, visit www.apsu.edu/outofstate.
