2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Texas
[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for higher education/higher education administration students.
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2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
Texas A And M University Central Texas earned the #1 spot for value among higher education/higher education administration schools in Texas. Set in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $23,160. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $50,370. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $61,569 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At San Antonio one of the best values for higher education/higher education administration. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $71,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $21,255. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $72,797. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $23,796. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $77,896. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas earned the #6 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $21,817. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $77,414. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $59,787 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #8 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $72,264. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $64,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Houston Baptist University placed #10 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,430 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $25,601. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $63,989. Set against $25,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #11 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $60,647. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Abilene Christian University landed the #12 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. Students from in state pay about $44,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Abilene Christian University earn a median of $65,554 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor placed #13 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belton. In-state tuition and fees average $34,300. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $26,782. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Mary Hardin Baylor earn a median of $59,942 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,782 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Dallas Baptist University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $40,190. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $83,576 early in their careers. Set against $22,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Christian University came in at #15 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,740. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $64,030. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Southern Methodist University landed the #16 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $20,712. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $90,462. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
Baylor University came in at #17 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $42,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
