PVAMU vs. Texas State

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Texas State San Marcos, TX
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Texas State Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Texas State 40,674
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • Texas State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Texas State #749
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • Texas State -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Texas State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • Texas State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Texas State $11,450
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Texas State $22,930
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Texas State $12,630
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Texas State $15,716
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • Texas State $12,556
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • Texas State 76%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Texas State 34,146
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Texas State 30,498
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Texas State 89.3%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Texas State 26.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • Texas State 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • Texas State 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Texas State 3.38
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • Texas State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Texas State Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • Texas State
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • Texas State 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Texas State 980/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • Texas State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • Texas State Jun 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Texas State 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Texas State
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Texas State 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Texas State $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Texas State 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Texas State $21,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • Texas State $219
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Texas State 40%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Texas State 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • Texas State High
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • Texas State No
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • Texas State 49%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • Texas State 2%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • Texas State 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • Texas State 35%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Texas State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Texas State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • Texas State 3%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • Texas State 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Texas State 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • Texas State 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • Texas State 2%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Texas State University is larger than PVAMU based on total student enrollment (40,674 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); Texas State University is in San Marcos, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie View A & M University 17:1; Texas State University 21:1.

PVAMU vs. Texas State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or Texas State? 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 Texas State ($14,448 vs. $15,716).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 18.3% lower than at Texas State University ($10,317 vs. $12,630).
  • Texas State University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVAMU (about $151 more per year; $11,450.00 vs. $11,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.2% higher at PVAMU than at Texas State University (about $3,944 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $22,930.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie View A & M University than at Texas State University (82% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 25.6% larger than aid received by Texas State University students ($15,769 vs. $12,556).

PVAMU vs. Texas State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas State University (1090) is 120 points higher than at PVAMU (970).
  • Incoming Texas State 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: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Texas State University 980/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Texas State University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; Texas State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027; Texas State Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Texas State students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at PVAMU (3.3).
  • Texas State has a higher acceptance rate (89.3%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 26.9% at Texas State.

PVAMU vs. Texas State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and Texas State? 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).

  • Texas State University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Texas State University earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than PVAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Texas State University graduates have a $7,705 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($21,250 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, Texas State graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($219 vs. $299).
  • More Texas State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.