Tennessee State University vs. PVAMU

Deciding between Tennessee State University and Prairie View A & M 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.

Tennessee State University
Prairie View A & M University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Setting
  • Tennessee State University Large City
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Tennessee State University 6,310
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Type
  • Tennessee State University Public 4 Year
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tennessee State University #973
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tennessee State University -
  • PVAMU -
  • Status
  • Tennessee State University Non-profit
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tennessee State University
  • PVAMU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tennessee State University $8,616
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tennessee State University $22,416
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Room & Board
  • Tennessee State University $11,150
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Average Net Price
  • Tennessee State University $14,586
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tennessee State University $9,661
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tennessee State University 67%
  • PVAMU 82%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tennessee State University 9,660
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Admitted
  • Tennessee State University 6,773
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tennessee State University 70.1% Open
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Tennessee State University 13% Open
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tennessee State University 970
  • PVAMU 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tennessee State University 18
  • PVAMU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tennessee State University 3.22
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tennessee State University B+
  • PVAMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tennessee State University Extremely Easy
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tennessee State University Low
  • PVAMU
  • ACT Range
  • Tennessee State University 16/21
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • Tennessee State University 880/1050
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tennessee State University Open admission
  • PVAMU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Tennessee State University
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tennessee State University 13:1
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tennessee State University
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tennessee State University 36%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tennessee State University $38,400
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tennessee State University 29%
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tennessee State University $28,000
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tennessee State University $289
  • PVAMU $299
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tennessee State University 35%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • % Women
  • Tennessee State University 65%
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tennessee State University Medium
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Tennessee State University Yes
  • PVAMU Yes
  • % White
  • Tennessee State University 14%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Asian
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Black
  • Tennessee State University 70%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tennessee State University 1%
  • PVAMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tennessee State University 3%
  • PVAMU 1%
  • % International
  • Tennessee State University 11%
  • PVAMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tennessee State University 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tennessee State University 41%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tennessee State University 57%
  • PVAMU 14%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Prairie View A & M University is larger than Tennessee State University based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 6,310 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Tennessee State University vs. PVAMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tennessee State University or PVAMU? 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 Tennessee State University ($14,448 vs. $14,586).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 7.5% lower than at Tennessee State University ($10,317 vs. $11,150).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 31.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee State University (about $2,683 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $8,616.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at PVAMU than at Tennessee State University (about $4,458 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $22,416.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie View A & M University than at Tennessee State University (82% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 63.2% larger than aid received by Tennessee State University students ($15,769 vs. $9,661).

Tennessee State University vs. PVAMU Admissions comparison

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

  • Tennessee State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tennessee State University (970) is the same as at PVAMU (970).
  • Incoming Tennessee State University students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 18) as students at PVAMU (18).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tennessee State University 880/1050; Prairie View A & M University 860/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tennessee State University 16/21; Prairie View A & M University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tennessee State University - Open admission; PVAMU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Tennessee State University (3.22).
  • PVAMU has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than Tennessee State University (70.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Tennessee State University vs. 18.4% at PVAMU.

Tennessee State University vs. PVAMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tennessee State University and PVAMU? 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).

  • Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate (36%) is higher than Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $600 more per year than Tennessee State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tennessee State University graduates have a $955 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($28,000 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee State University graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($289 vs. $299).
  • More Tennessee State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (29% 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.