PVAMU vs. VSU

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • VSU $305

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Prairie View A & M University is larger than VSU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 5,605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Prairie View A & M University is located in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie View A & M University 17:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

PVAMU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or VSU? 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 VSU ($14,448 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 22.7% lower than at Virginia State University ($10,317 vs. $13,355).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 12.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $1,256 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $10,043.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at PVAMU than at Virginia State University (about $4,224 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $22,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia State University than at Prairie View A & M University (92% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 26.7% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($15,769 vs. $12,447).

PVAMU vs. VSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 10 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Incoming PVAMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at VSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 14.3% at VSU.

PVAMU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and VSU? 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).

  • Virginia State University's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Prairie View A & M University graduates have a $545 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($28,955 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, PVAMU graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($299 vs. $305).
  • More PVAMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.