HSU vs. PVAMU

Deciding between Hardin Simmons 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.

Hardin Simmons University
Prairie View A & M University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HSU Abilene, TX
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Setting
  • HSU Midsize City
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • HSU 1,665
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Type
  • HSU Private 4 Year
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HSU #648
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HSU Baptist
  • PVAMU -
  • Status
  • HSU Non-profit
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HSU
  • PVAMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HSU $32,960
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HSU $32,960
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Room & Board
  • HSU $11,500
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Average Net Price
  • HSU $19,811
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HSU $26,095
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HSU 100%
  • PVAMU 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HSU 3,479
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Admitted
  • HSU 3,131
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HSU 90%
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Enrolled
  • HSU 12.2%
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HSU 1100
  • PVAMU 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • HSU 22
  • PVAMU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • HSU 3.43
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HSU B+
  • PVAMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • HSU Easy
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • HSU
  • PVAMU
  • ACT Range
  • HSU 19/26
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • HSU 1010/1190
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HSU Test optional
  • PVAMU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • HSU
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HSU 15:1
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HSU 47%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HSU $46,600
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HSU 67%
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HSU $25,989
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HSU $268
  • PVAMU $299

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HSU 46%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • % Women
  • HSU 54%
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HSU Medium
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • HSU No
  • PVAMU Yes
  • % White
  • HSU 71%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Asian
  • HSU 1%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Black
  • HSU 6%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Hispanic
  • HSU 15%
  • PVAMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • HSU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HSU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HSU 4%
  • PVAMU 1%
  • % International
  • HSU 1%
  • PVAMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HSU 1%
  • PVAMU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HSU 92%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HSU 5%
  • PVAMU 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, TX 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 HSU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 1,665 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hardin Simmons University is located in Abilene, TX (Midsize City setting); Prairie View A & M University is in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Hardin Simmons University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hardin Simmons University 15:1; Prairie View A & M University 17:1.

HSU vs. PVAMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HSU 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 Prairie View A & M University than HSU ($14,448 vs. $19,811).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 10.3% lower than at Hardin Simmons University ($10,317 vs. $11,500).
  • Hardin Simmons University is 191.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVAMU (about $21,661 more per year; $32,960.00 vs. $11,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.6% higher at HSU than at Prairie View A & M University (about $6,086 more per year; $32,960.00 vs. $26,874.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hardin Simmons University than at Prairie View A & M University (100% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hardin Simmons University students is 65.5% larger than aid received by Prairie View A & M University students ($26,095 vs. $15,769).

HSU vs. PVAMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HSU 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 HSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hardin Simmons University (1100) is 130 points higher than at PVAMU (970).
  • Incoming HSU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at PVAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hardin Simmons University 1010/1190; Prairie View A & M University 860/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hardin Simmons University 19/26; Prairie View A & M University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HSU - Test optional; PVAMU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at PVAMU (3.3).
  • HSU has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at HSU vs. 18.4% at PVAMU.

HSU vs. PVAMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HSU 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).

  • Hardin Simmons University's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Hardin Simmons University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than PVAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hardin Simmons University graduates have a $2,966 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($25,989 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, HSU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($268 vs. $299).
  • More HSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (67% 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.