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Higher Education Administration Degree in Grand Prairie, TX — Salary & ROI 2026

Higher Education Administration 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

$58K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.8 yrs

in Grand Prairie

Cost of Living

93.8

index (100 = avg)

Higher Education Administration in Grand Prairie, TX Overview

Grand Prairie, Texas (pop. 196,100) has 8 colleges offering Higher Education Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 93.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Higher Education Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Student Affairs and Program Development. The adjusted starting salary in Grand Prairie is approximately $46,900.

Category

Education

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%

Higher Education Administration Salary in Grand Prairie (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Grand Prairie's cost of living index of 93.8 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$46,900($-3,100 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$58,156($-3,844 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$75,040($-4,960 vs national)

Note: National average Higher Education Administration salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Grand Prairie adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.

Higher Education Administration ROI Calculator for Grand Prairie

Estimate your return on investment for a Higher Education Administration 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

$232,864

Lifetime earnings premium ($328,300) minus total education cost ($95,436)

Student Loan Payoff for Higher Education Administration in Grand Prairie

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$95,436
Monthly Payment$1,084
Total Interest$34,603
% of Monthly Income28%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$95,436
Monthly Payment$1,867
Total Interest$16,603
Interest Savings$18,000

Colleges in Grand Prairie for Higher Education Administration

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 Higher Education Administration in Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Higher Education Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:

UniversitiesCommunity CollegesStudent AffairsAdmissions OfficesEducation Non-Profits

Key Grand Prairie Hiring Sectors for Education

School districts

Universities

EdTech companies

Non-profits

Training organizations

Common Higher Education Administration Job Titles

Admissions CounselorStudent Affairs DirectorAcademic Advisor

Higher Education Administration 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 Higher Education Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Grand Prairie.

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