PVAMU vs. Tarleton

Deciding between Prairie View A & M University and Tarleton 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
Tarleton State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Tarleton Stephenville, TX
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Tarleton Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Tarleton 17,433
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • Tarleton Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Tarleton #914
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • Tarleton -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Tarleton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • Tarleton
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Tarleton $8,302
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Tarleton $18,142
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Tarleton $10,920
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Tarleton $16,159
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • Tarleton $7,929
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • Tarleton 91%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Tarleton 13,705
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Tarleton 12,273
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Tarleton 89.6%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Tarleton 24.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • Tarleton 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • Tarleton 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Tarleton 3.21
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • Tarleton B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Tarleton Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • Tarleton
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • Tarleton 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Tarleton 980/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • Tarleton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • Tarleton Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Tarleton 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Tarleton
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Tarleton 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Tarleton $45,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Tarleton 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Tarleton $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • Tarleton $204
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Tarleton 38%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Tarleton 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • Tarleton Medium
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • Tarleton No
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • Tarleton 68%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • Tarleton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • Tarleton 18%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • Tarleton 3%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • Tarleton 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • Tarleton 3%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Tarleton State University is larger than PVAMU based on total student enrollment (17,433 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); Tarleton State University is in Stephenville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tarleton State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie View A & M University 17:1; Tarleton State University 20:1.

PVAMU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton ($14,448 vs. $16,159).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 5.5% lower than at Tarleton State University ($10,317 vs. $10,920).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 36.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarleton (about $2,997 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $8,302.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.1% higher at PVAMU than at Tarleton State University (about $8,732 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $18,142.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tarleton State University than at Prairie View A & M University (91% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 98.9% larger than aid received by Tarleton State University students ($15,769 vs. $7,929).

PVAMU vs. Tarleton Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tarleton State University (1070) is 100 points higher than at PVAMU (970).
  • Incoming Tarleton students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 18 at PVAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Tarleton State University 980/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Tarleton State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; Tarleton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027; Tarleton Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Tarleton (3.21).
  • Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 24.3% at Tarleton.

PVAMU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and Tarleton? 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).

  • Tarleton State University's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than PVAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tarleton State University graduates have a $9,205 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($19,750 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, Tarleton graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($204 vs. $299).
  • More Tarleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.