PVAMU vs. SHSU

Deciding between Prairie View A & M University and Sam Houston State 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
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Sam Houston State University is larger than PVAMU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 9,922 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

PVAMU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or SHSU? 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 SHSU ($14,448 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 12% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($10,317 vs. $11,720).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 22.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $2,071 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at PVAMU than at Sam Houston State University (about $7,806 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie View A & M University than at Sam Houston State University (82% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 47.8% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($15,769 vs. $10,669).

PVAMU vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 60 points higher than at PVAMU (970).
  • Incoming SHSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 18 at PVAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027; SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

PVAMU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and SHSU? 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).

  • Sam Houston State University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than PVAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $7,455 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($21,500 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($222 vs. $299).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.