Prairie View A&M University

A student works on a computer while listening to headphonesStudents in PVAMU’s Undergraduate Medical Academy find out first-hand what the medical profession is like through research, internships and mentoring programs. 

Prairie View A&M University is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. Offering baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 35 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees, this historically black university has an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators. The university is located about 40 miles northwest of Houston in Waller County.

Established 1876
First Classes Held 1878
Fall 2007 Enrollment 8,382
Number of Faculty 487
Student/Faculty Ratio 19:1
Average Undergraduate Class Size 24
Undergraduate Degree Programs 51
Graduate Degree Programs 47
FY 2008 Operating Budget $150.9M

Panther mascotColors: purple and gold
Mascot: panther
Athletic affiliation: Southwestern Athletic Conference

Did You Know?

  • Prairie View A&M University has produced more African American three-star flag officers than any other school (including the military academies). Those officers include four army generals and one navy admiral.
  • The university’s solar observatory is the only solar observatory in Texas and one of only nine in the country.
  • In 2006, Prairie View A&M University ranked no. 27 on Black Enterprise magazine’s list of the 50 Best Colleges & Universities for African Americans. PVAMU was the only Texas school on the list.

  • PVAMU is partnering in one of five new Engineering Research Centers funded by the National Science Foundation to develop cross-disciplinary research programs that will advance technologies and provide the basis for new industries.

University information: (936) 857-3311 · www.pvamu.edu