Austin Peay State University (APSU; ) is a public university in Clarksville, Tennessee, United States. Standing on a site occupied by a succession of educational institutions since 1845, the precursor of the university was established in 1927 and named for then-sitting Governor Austin Peay, who is further honored with "Governors", the name of the university's athletic teams. Affiliated with the Tennessee Board of Regents, it is now governed by the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees as of May 2017. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and, in 2012, was the fastest-growing university in Tennessee. In 2025, Austin Peay State University hit 11,185 registered students for the fall semester.
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History
Austin Peay Normal School, the precursor of the university, was established in 1927 and named for then-sitting Tennessee Governor Austin Peay. In 1943, its name was changed to Austin Peay State College. It became Austin Peay State University in 1967.
In 2025, APSU fired a professor of theatre for a social media post following the death of Charlie Kirk which consisted of a screenshot of a 2023 Newsweek headline quoting Kirk's prior views on deaths due to gun violence. The professor sued the university and was reinstated the next year with APSU also forced to pay him $500,000.
Presidents
Philander Claxton, 1930–1946
Halbert Harvill, 1946–1962
Joe Morgan, 1963–1976
Sherry Hoppe, 2001–2007
Tim Hall, 2008–2013
Alisa White, 2014–2020
Michael Licari, 2021–Present
Academics
Austin Peay is organized into six colleges, two schools, and 28 departments.
College of Arts and Letters
College of Business
College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Eriksson College of Education
College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
College of Graduate Studies
Campus
The university's campus in Clarksville, Tennessee, is a site occupied by a succession of educational institutions since 1845. The urban setting includes 182 acres (74 ha). Built before Austin Peay Normal School, the Castle Building was an impressive three-story brick structure that featured fretted battlements, towers, casement windows set in paneled wood.
Athletics
The university's colors are red and white. Its athletics teams are called the Governors, in honor of Governor Austin Peay. The university is a member of the ASUN Conference and competes at the NCAA Division 1.