Prairie View A & M University
#5 Best HBCUs for Engineering- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,411 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $13,570 C+
- 21% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.2 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best HBCUs for Engineering.
Every $1 spent returns $22.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,153,260.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 43% — 24% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Prairie View A & M University Matters
Prairie View A & M University is a public research university in Prairie View, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,877
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Engineering
Why students choose Prairie View A & M University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 79% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 860–1080. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,570 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,411 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.48 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 8,900 students, Prairie View A&M University is a solid choice for those looking for a supportive community and a wide array of academic programs. The school has a diverse student body and an acceptance rate of 79%, making it accessible to many. Here, you can dive into popular fields like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Engineering, and Criminal Justice, which cater to a variety of interests and career paths.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, students typically see a 10-year earnings average of $45,411, which can be reassuring as you consider your future. While the graduation rate sits at 43%, those who do complete their degrees often find themselves better positioned in the job market. The affordability of the education is also noteworthy, with 66% of students receiving Pell Grants, easing some of the financial burdens that can come with college.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price of attending Prairie View A&M after aid is $13,570, while the median debt for graduates is about $27,000. This balance makes it a feasible option for many. Students who thrive here often appreciate a hands-on approach to learning and benefit from strong community ties, making it easier to adjust and find their place in both academic and social settings.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Prairie View A & M University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Prairie View A & M University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Prairie View, Texas, Prairie View A & M University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 980. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 980
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 860–1080
- ACT Range
- 16–21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 82%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,530
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.28
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 5,691
- Admitted
- 4,329
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Prairie View A & M University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Prairie View A & M University is $26,874, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,570. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,120 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,299
- Out-of-State
- $26,874
- Avg Net Price
- $13,570
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 66%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 68%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,120
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,465
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,024
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,376
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Prairie View A & M University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Prairie View A & M University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Prairie View A & M University earn a median of $45,411, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,350
- 8 Years
- $39,649
- 10 Years
- $45,411
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.59x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (224)
- 14%
- 100% (224)
- 14%
- 100% (224)
- 14%
- 100% (224)
- 14%
How Prairie Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Prairie View A & M University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Prairie View A & M University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,570/year ($54,280 total). Graduates earn $45,411 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,207,540 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,153,260 (22.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $54,280
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,207,540
- Net Return
- $1,153,260
- ROI Multiple
- 22.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,570
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-47,873,002
Top Programs
The fields Prairie View A & M University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 15% $51,046 early-career
- Health Professions 11% $86,608 early-career
- Psychology 10% $27,732 early-career
- Engineering 9% $83,184 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $36,008 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $37,637 early-career
- Humanities 5% $29,935 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $74,862 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Prairie View A & M University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Prairie View A & M University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Prairie View, Texas, Prairie View A & M University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 980. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Prairie View A & M University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Prairie View A & M University is $26,874, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,570. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,120 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Prairie View A & M University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Prairie View A & M University earn a median of $45,411, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Prairie View A & M University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Prairie View A & M University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.48, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Prairie View A & M University.
- Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, CO · Close peer41% grad $45,823 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL · Close peer53% grad $45,235 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer41% grad $50,698 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC · Close peer50% grad $47,258 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN · Close peer56% grad $48,501 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · Close peer55% grad $42,617 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Prairie View A & M University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Prairie View A & M University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.48, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note