PVAMU vs. WVSU

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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • WVSU Institute, WV
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • WVSU Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • WVSU 3,246
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • WVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • WVSU #1010
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • WVSU -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • WVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • WVSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • WVSU $9,570
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • WVSU $14,990
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • WVSU $13,522
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • WVSU $11,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • WVSU $8,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • WVSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • WVSU 6,163
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • WVSU 5,914
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • WVSU 96%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • WVSU 5.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • WVSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • WVSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • WVSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • WVSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • WVSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • WVSU
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • WVSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • WVSU 760/1040
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • WVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • WVSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • WVSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • WVSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • WVSU 25%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • WVSU $32,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • WVSU 35%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • WVSU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • WVSU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • WVSU 42%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • WVSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • WVSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • WVSU Yes
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • WVSU 65%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • WVSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • WVSU 10%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • WVSU 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • WVSU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • WVSU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Prairie View A & M University is larger than WVSU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 3,246 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

PVAMU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or WVSU? 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 West Virginia State University than PVAMU ($11,055 vs. $14,448).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 23.7% lower than at West Virginia State University ($10,317 vs. $13,522).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 18.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVSU (about $1,729 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $9,570.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.3% higher at PVAMU than at West Virginia State University (about $11,884 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $14,990.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia State University than at Prairie View A & M University (88% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 75.3% larger than aid received by West Virginia State University students ($15,769 vs. $8,993).

PVAMU vs. WVSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 70 points higher than at WVSU (900).
  • Incoming PVAMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at WVSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; West Virginia State University 760/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; West Virginia State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; WVSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at WVSU (3.24).
  • WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 5.5% at WVSU.

PVAMU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and WVSU? 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).

  • Prairie View A & M University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than West Virginia State University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than WVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia State University graduates have a $5,705 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($23,250 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, WVSU graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($240 vs. $299).
  • More WVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.