GSU vs. PVAMU

Deciding between Governors State University and Prairie View A & M 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • PVAMU -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • PVAMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • PVAMU 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • PVAMU 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • PVAMU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • PVAMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • PVAMU
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • PVAMU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • PVAMU $299

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • PVAMU Yes
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • PVAMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • PVAMU 1%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • PVAMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • PVAMU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • PVAMU 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie View A & M University is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Prairie View A & M University is in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; Prairie View A & M University 17:1.

GSU vs. PVAMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or PVAMU? 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 Governors State University than PVAMU ($12,756 vs. $14,448).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 12.1% lower than at Governors State University ($10,317 vs. $11,736).
  • Governors State University is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVAMU (about $705 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $11,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 123.9% higher at PVAMU than at Governors State University (about $14,870 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie View A & M University than at Governors State University (82% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 37.7% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($15,769 vs. $11,455).

GSU vs. PVAMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or PVAMU? 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 PVAMU and GSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 20 points higher than at GSU (950).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060; Prairie View A & M University 860/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPrairie View A & M University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; PVAMU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027; PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at PVAMU (3.3).
  • PVAMU has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 18.4% at PVAMU.

GSU vs. PVAMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and PVAMU? 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).

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than PVAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,600 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $11,705 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($17,250 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($178 vs. $299).
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 28%)

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.