Dallas, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Dallas, Texas shows: median public in-state tuition $17,666 (+220.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $42,091 (-22.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $13,000 (-3.2% vs U.S.) 62,329 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 31 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 62,329 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $17,666 (+220.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $42,091 (-22.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.2% (-1.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $22,800 (+128.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $13,000 (-3.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,012
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 45.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 64.9%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Dallas, Texas—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Dallas vs Texas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, Texas | $17,666 | $22,800 | $13,000 | 45.8% | 62,329 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,555 | $8,031 | $10,667 | 45.2% | 1,239,434 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Dallas, Texas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, Texas | $42,091 | 86.2% | 64.9% | 6.0% | — | 56.9% | 0.38 |
| Texas (state median) | $54,274 | 89.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.1% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Texas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, Texas | $17,666 | $22,800 | $13,000 | 45.8% | 62,329 | $42,091 | 86.2% |
| Houston | $13,920 | $19,701 | $12,000 | 46.7% | 137,564 | $59,224 | 87.5% |
| San Antonio | $11,707 | $20,465 | $9,500 | 50.5% | 111,767 | $56,844 | 90.7% |
| Austin | $23,500 | $21,991 | $9,120 | 44.6% | 82,274 | $59,854 | 89.8% |
| Fort Worth | $11,934 | $24,181 | $15,500 | 31.5% | 57,100 | $61,238 | 90.7% |
| El Paso | $9,744 | $15,578 | $11,000 | 65.5% | 50,606 | $50,923 | 89.2% |
| Denton | $9,974 | $15,649 | $19,218 | 54.9% | 43,336 | $56,777 | 90.6% |
| Lubbock | $20,196 | $21,763 | $12,618 | 60.0% | 35,638 | $62,454 | 92.4% |
| Arlington | $16,390 | $22,520 | $8,505 | 36.7% | 34,674 | $53,922 | 88.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Dallas, Texas
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 5 | $43,503 | 88.9% | 50.0% | 5.4% | — | 65.3% |
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 84.3%, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 74.1%, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 57.0%, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 41.6%, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 26.9%, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.3%, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 88.9%, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 86.2%, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 85.3%, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 79.2%, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Top 10 most selective colleges in Dallas, Texas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 40.3%, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 63.3%, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 84.5%, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 88.8%, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 100.0%, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $93,679, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,169, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $54,594, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $53,632, Parker University
Parker University
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $133,852, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $103,694, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $87,378, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $61,327, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $61,083, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $65,556, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,716, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,138, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,181, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,840, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $27,021, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $77,799, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,508, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $47,479, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,491, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $29,596, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $78,354, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,807, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $42,091, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,657, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $29,288, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $216,700, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $162,573, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $147,893, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $110,632, Wade College
Wade College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $105,474, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $98,890, Dallas Christian College
Dallas Christian College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $42,436, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $2,088, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Dallas, Texas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $6,420, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
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Rank 2, Net Price, $12,709, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $28,516, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 4, Net Price, $29,135, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 5, Net Price, $38,488, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 6, Net Price, $40,892, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Top 10 colleges in Dallas, Texas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.5%, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 68.8%, Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 65.4%, University of North Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas at Dallas
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 64.4%, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 50.0%, Parker University
Parker University
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 49.0%, Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College
In-state tuition: Dallas, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Dallas, Texas median in-state tuition is $17,666, +220.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Dallas, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Dallas, Texas is $13,000 (-3.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,012.
Median earnings (10 years out): Dallas, Texas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Dallas, Texas center around $42,091 (-22.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Dallas, Texas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.2% at the median Dallas, Texas campus (-1.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Dallas, Texas median public in-state tuition is $17,666, about +220.5% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +379.3%.
Median graduate debt is $13,000 (-3.2% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Dallas, Texas are $42,091, about -22.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 86.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-1.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 64.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 56.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Dallas Baptist University (89.3%), Southern Methodist University (88.9%), Paul Quinn College (86.2%), Parker University (85.3%), Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas (79.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Dallas, Texas, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $43,503 (5 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Dallas, Texas is 45.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Dallas?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 31 campuses in Dallas, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Dallas?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Dallas is $17,666 and median net price is $22,800. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Dallas?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Dallas is $42,091 vs $54,274 for Texas and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Dallas colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Dallas is $13,000 vs $10,667 for Texas and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Dallas?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Southern Methodist University (graduation) and Southern Methodist University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Dallas?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 32 campuses in Dallas, Texas, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Paul Quinn College; 8 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Dallas Christian College, Dallas College, and Graham's Barber College; 6 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (1), Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (1), Undenominational (1).
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON