PVAMU vs. TSU

Deciding between Prairie View A & M University and Texas Southern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Prairie View A & M University
Texas Southern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • TSU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • TSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • TSU 8,704
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • TSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • TSU #1020
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • TSU -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • TSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • TSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • TSU $9,173
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • TSU $21,473
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • TSU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • TSU $13,584
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • TSU $9,823
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • TSU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • TSU 9,391
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • TSU 9,101
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • TSU 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • TSU 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • TSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • TSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • TSU 3.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • TSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • TSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • TSU
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • TSU 15/19
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • TSU 800/1000
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • TSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • TSU Jul 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • TSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • TSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • TSU 12%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • TSU $36,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • TSU 22%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • TSU $29,358
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • TSU $303

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • TSU 35%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • TSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • TSU Low
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • TSU Yes
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • TSU 80%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • TSU 6%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • TSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • TSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • TSU 0%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • TSU 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • TSU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • TSU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • TSU 20%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • PVAMU Yes
  • TSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • PVAMU No
  • TSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • PVAMU Yes
  • TSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • PVAMU Yes
  • TSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • PVAMU No
  • TSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX with Texas Southern University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie View A & M University is larger than TSU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 8,704 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Prairie View A & M University is located in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting); Texas Southern University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie View A & M University 17:1; Texas Southern University 19:1.

PVAMU vs. TSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or TSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Texas Southern University than PVAMU ($13,584 vs. $14,448).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 19.4% lower than at Texas Southern University ($10,317 vs. $12,800).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 23.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than TSU (about $2,126 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $9,173.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.2% higher at PVAMU than at Texas Southern University (about $5,401 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $21,473.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Southern University than at Prairie View A & M University (95% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 60.5% larger than aid received by Texas Southern University students ($15,769 vs. $9,823).

PVAMU vs. TSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PVAMU or TSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between TSU and PVAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 70 points higher than at TSU (900).
  • Incoming PVAMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at TSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Texas Southern University 800/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Texas Southern University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; TSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027; TSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at TSU (3.0).
  • TSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 17.9% at TSU.

PVAMU vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and TSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Prairie View A & M University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Texas Southern University's (12%).
  • Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than TSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Prairie View A & M University graduates have a $403 lower median loan debt than TSU graduates ($28,955 vs. $29,358).
  • Among borrowers, PVAMU graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TSU graduates ($299 vs. $303).
  • More PVAMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TSU students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 22%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.