Prairie View A&M University is a public research university founded in 1876 in Prairie View, Texas, and a member of the Texas A&M University System. It holds the distinction of being the second-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas and the first state-supported college in Texas established for African Americans. Today, it serves more than 9,000 students across a 1,440-acre campus known as "The Hill," home to over 50 buildings.
The university carries an R2 Carnegie Classification, denoting high research activity, and organizes its academic work across eight colleges and schools. Its more than 70 degree programs span baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels across a broad range of disciplines, including:
- Engineering
- Business
- Architecture
- Nursing
- Education
- Agriculture
- Juvenile justice
- Arts
As a Historically Black University (HBCU), Prairie View A&M has a longstanding mission centered on access, with a particular emphasis on serving students from underserved communities. Its stated institutional values include access and quality, leadership, relevance, innovation, and social responsibility.