APSU one of Tennessee’s first schools to drop ACT/SAT requirement for scholarships
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Anyone interested in earning a college degree without being overwhelmed with student debt needs to give Austin Peay State University a fresh look. The University, which U.S. News and World Report recently named one of the top 25 regional public schools in the South, prides itself on graduating 41% of its students with no debt.
And now, Austin Peay is one of the first universities in Tennessee to drop ACT and
SAT requirements for awarding scholarships, which means APSU will award more financial
scholarships to students looking to earn their degree.
"We’re excited to offer more achievement scholarships based on a student’s high school GPA, which is a better predictor of college performance, rather than how they scored on a standardized test,” Dr. Maria Cronley, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said. “We’re also investing more money into these awards, so there will be more scholarships worth more money.”
Austin Peay will now award a $6,000 Presidential Scholarship to students with a 4.0 GPA, $3,500 Dean’s Scholarships to students with at least a 3.85 GPA and $2,000 Achievement Scholarships for students with at least a 3.7 GPA. The University offers a variety of scholarships to freshmen, transfer and out-of-state students.
Austin Peay students are leading throughout their disciplines, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. Story continues below.
“We’re committed to keeping college affordable while continuing to offer our students a high-quality education,” Dannelle Whiteside, APSU interim president, said. “Increasing our investment in scholarships means we’re investing in more students and hopefully bringing more diversity to our campus. By investing in their success, we expect that our students can lead and transform our communities without student loan debt blocking their potential.”
Earlier this year, Austin Peay also waived its standardized test requirements – the ACT, SAT and GRE – for any student applying for undergraduate or graduate admission for the spring, summer and fall 2021 terms. The University adopted this test-optional admission policy because of the many challenges potential students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential students still need to meet the University’s other admission requirements, such as having a 2.75 high school GPA or higher.
News Feed
View All News
The Eriksson College of Education has welcomed 23 incoming teacher residents from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System at its 2026 Grow Your Own Teacher Residency signing day, marking the start of a three-year, tuition-free, paid pathway into the teaching profession.
Read More
Austin Peay State University students and a staff member traveled to Puerto Rico this summer through the Alternative Break Trip program, assisting the nonprofit Centro Esperanza with hurricane relief efforts, grounds restoration, and groundwork for a revitalized outdoor learning facility.
Read More
Austin Peay State University raised more than $23 million during the 2026 fiscal year -- its second-highest fundraising total in 99 years and a 47% year-over-year increase -- through 7,240 gifts from 2,861 donors as the university approaches its centennial.
Read More