Marshall University vs Austin Peay State University

Marshall University and Austin Peay State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Austin Peay State University is more selective with a 96.0% acceptance rate compared to Marshall University's 96.5%. Average SAT scores are 1051 and 1050 respectively.

Cost: Marshall University offers a lower average net price at $8,327, which is $6,519 less than Austin Peay State University ($14,846). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Marshall University earn a median salary of $46,354 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,053 more than Austin Peay State University graduates ($44,301).

Graduation: Marshall University leads with a 49.2% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 78.7% vs 66.8%.

Campus Size: Austin Peay State University is the larger campus with 7,365 total students, while Marshall University has 7,149.

Bottom Line: Marshall University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.