CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay State University has finally breached 11,000 enrollment again – hitting a new high-water mark and fully recovering from the COVID-era dip in numbers.
According to official enrollment data released Monday, APSU has 11,185 registered students for Fall semester 2025. Austin Peay’s total enrollment rose by 7.1% over the past year, which represents an increasing number of students across demographics and academic programs.
“Behind every enrollment number is a student with their own dreams and ambitions,” APSU President Mike Licari said in a press release. “What excites me most about this continued growth is that students across Tennessee and beyond are trusting Austin Peay to help them achieve their goals. We take that responsibility seriously and remain committed to providing the support and opportunities they need to succeed.”
APSU enrollment over the years
APSU first hit five-figure enrollment in 2009, then flirted with 11,000-enrollment in 2011, according to data compiled by Clarksville Now. The university first topped 11,000 in 2019. At the time, APSU was working with an ambitious strategic plan calling for enrollment of 15,000 by 2025, according to Leaf-Chronicle records; university officials said 13,000 would be more realistic.
But COVID brought that climb to a halt, and it hit every university nationwide. Enrollment at APSU dipped to a low near 9,300 in 2022 before the recovery began.
Fall enrollment at APSU by year for all students:
- 2007: 9,094
- 2008: 9,401
- 2009: 10,188
- 2010: 10,723
- 2011: 10,873
- 2012: 10,597
- 2013: 10,399
- 2014: 10,111
- 2015: 10,099
- 2016: 10,344
- 2017: 10,463
- 2019: 11,048
- 2020: 10,272
- 2021: 9,609
- 2022: 9,326
- 2023: 9,945
- 2024: 10,439
- 2025: 11,185
Growth, investment amid national decline
APSU’s growth comes despite projections of a national decline in college enrollment starting in 2025, the release said.
“This continued growth demonstrates that our message is resonating with students and families across Tennessee,” Amy Corlew, APSU’s assistant provost for enrollment management, said in the release. “We’re seeing strong interest from students who want an education that prepares them for meaningful careers and a university that supports them every step of the way.”
Continued enrollment growth has been supported by major investments in the university, most notably this year’s opening of the massive, state-of-the-art Health Professions Building, which houses Austin Peay’s School of Nursing and the departments of Allied Health Sciences, Health and Human Performance, Psychological Science and Counseling, and Social Work.
“What sets Austin Peay apart is our culture of academic innovation and commitment to student success,” Dr. Mitchell Cordova, APSU’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said in the release. “Our faculty and staff have embraced the challenge of rethinking how we deliver education, creating enriching academic experiences that are directly preparing our students for emerging workforce demands and their careers. Students recognize and value that difference.”
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