Archaeology Degree in Grand Prairie, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Archaeology degree analysis for Grand Prairie, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Grand Prairie
Cost of Living
93.8
index (100 = avg)
Archaeology in Grand Prairie, TX Overview
Grand Prairie, Texas (pop. 196,100) has 8 colleges offering Archaeology programs. The local cost of living index of 93.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Although national enrollment in Archaeology has been declining, graduates with skills in Excavation and Artifact Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Grand Prairie is approximately $46,900.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,959/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,206/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
69%
Archaeology Salary in Grand Prairie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Grand Prairie's cost of living index of 93.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Archaeology salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Grand Prairie adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Archaeology ROI Calculator for Grand Prairie
Estimate your return on investment for a Archaeology degree using local Grand Prairie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Grand Prairie avg aid: $15,206/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,436
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,070
vs HS diploma in Grand Prairie
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Grand Prairie
$73,404
Lifetime earnings premium ($168,840) minus total education cost ($95,436)
Student Loan Payoff for Archaeology in Grand Prairie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Grand Prairie for Archaeology
Grand Prairie State University
public
$10,712/yr
$42,848 total
University of Grand Prairie
public
$9,448/yr
$37,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Grand Prairie Community College
$5,844/yr
Top Employers for Archaeology in Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Archaeology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Grand Prairie Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Archaeology Job Titles
Archaeology in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Grand Prairie
International Relations
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$47K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$47K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Archaeology Degree in Grand Prairie — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Archaeology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Grand Prairie.