Survey: PVAMU No. 1 Texas HBCU, fifth-best value university in state

By Aswad Walker

A new ranking from financial technology company SmartAsset states what residents of “The Hill” have been saying for eons: that Prairie View A&M University is the No. 1 HBCU in the state of Texas. But the tech company’s accolades for PVAMU didn’t stop there.

According to SmartAsset, PVAMU is also the fifth-best-value university in the entire Lone Star State. The only Texas schools ranked above PVAMU were Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, and the University of Texas at Dallas.

PVAMU alumni stand in solid agreement with this recent assessment.

“PVAMU is a family,” said alumna Sharifa Jones Rankins. “I felt supported by my teachers, they have great degree programs, I’ve met some of my best friends there, and attended some of the best parties. PVAMU has a good balance of fun and education, which makes for a very good college experience.”

Rankin was not alone in offering up praise for Prairie View.

“For me and so many others, PV is a place where you can feel like you’re home because from the administration, instructors, coaches, staff and student body you’re treated like family,” said alumnus James M. Sherrod. “The school epitomizes the phrase ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ Prairie View’s true legacy is that it ‘produces productive people.”

SmartAsset determines its best-value colleges and universities by looking at tuition, student living costs, scholarship and grant offerings, student retention rate, and the starting salary for new graduates.

With an average scholarship and grant offering just over $10,000 and tuition just over $12,000, the median starting salary for PVAMU graduates is around $62,000.

As one current PVAMU student said: “What does Prairie View have that Texas Southern University doesn’t? The No. 1 HBCU in Texas ranking. YOU KNOW!”

The no. 1 best-value university on SmartAsset’s list nationwide is the California Institute of Technology. Nationwide, PVAMU is one of two HBCUs listed. The other is Savannah State University in Georgia.