Tennessee — Austin Peay State University
Average net price per year: $13,331
Median earnings six years after graduation: $34,900
Going to Austin Peay State University may save you a few thousand dollars, but you’re not getting a ton of long-term value for your degree. Earnings are just about average, nationwide. Even though the school is a bit cheaper than other options, those taking on student loans are still racking up a significant debt load of $22,796, and an above-average 12.4% of APSU students end up defaulting. “Austin Peay is an average school: You get what you pay for,” senior comments in an online review. “The best thing about the university is that it is one of the cheapest options in the state of Tennessee. If you can afford a better and more expensive school, then do it.”