Austin Peay State University (APSU) is the only four-year university in Clarksville, with a campus of red-brick buildings set on a hillside north of the downtown historic district. Founded in 1927 and named for Tennessee Governor Austin Peay, the university has grown significantly in recent decades, driven partly by the large military population at nearby Fort Campbell.
The campus is pleasant to walk through and the Trahern Gallery in the art building shows student and visiting exhibitions year-round. The university's Dunn Center is the city's largest indoor performance venue, hosting concerts, graduations, and sports events. APSU's Governors athletic teams compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.