Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University conferred 30 bachelor's degrees in social work in the most recent reporting year, ranking #214 among the 587 colleges nationally that award the degree. That is a mid-sized program — large enough to sustain a dedicated field placement office, small enough that faculty tend to know students by name.

39.7% of students complete their degree, below the 50.4% median across BSW-awarding colleges — worth asking the department about directly. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it.

The average student pays $9,882 a year after grants and scholarships — $8,153 below the $18,035 median across the 19 BSW colleges in Tennessee. 57.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.