Hospitality Administration

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$36,214
Median Earnings
$55,856
Schools Offering
138
ROI Grade
C

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $49,983Median: $55,85675th: $62,673

Best Schools for Hospitality Administration by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1Cornell University
NY · Private
$112,289
2New York University
NY · Private
$84,375
3Boston University
MA · Private
$82,302
4University of San Francisco
CA · Private
$77,757
5George Washington University
DC · Private
$75,683
6University of Denver
CO · Private
$75,118
7Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VA · Public
$72,817
8DePaul University
IL · Private
$71,556
9Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
NJ · Private
$71,188
10Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
NJ · Private
$71,188
11University of Delaware
DE · Public
$71,102
12University of Massachusetts-Amherst
MA · Public
$70,916
13San Diego State University
CA · Public
$70,113
14Michigan State University
MI · Public
$69,651
15Lasell University
MA · Private
$68,693
16West Virginia University
WV · Public
$68,473
17Washington State University
WA · Public
$66,874
18University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
NH · Public
$66,046
19University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online
NH · Public
$66,046
20California State University-East Bay
CA · Public
$65,655
21San Francisco State University
CA · Public
$65,510
22James Madison University
VA · Public
$65,016
23York College of Pennsylvania
PA · Private
$64,754
24Southern New Hampshire University
NH · Private
$64,526
25Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
$64,315
26College of Charleston
SC · Public
$64,154
27Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
PA · Public
$63,798
28Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
PA · Public
$63,798
29Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
PA · Public
$63,798
30Auburn University
AL · Public
$63,419
31Campbell University
NC · Private
$63,402
32George Mason University
VA · Public
$62,727
33Florida State University
FL · Public
$62,673
34Colorado State University-Fort Collins
CO · Public
$62,556
35University of Missouri-Columbia
MO · Public
$61,441
36National Louis University
IL · Private
$61,413
37Endicott College
MA · Private
$60,969
38Temple University
PA · Public
$60,347
39University of Hawaii at Manoa
HI · Public
$60,157
40St. Joseph's University-New York
NY · Private
$60,041
41Florida Gulf Coast University
FL · Public
$60,011
42New York Institute of Technology
NY · Private
$59,490
43Georgia State University
GA · Public
$59,089
44East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
PA · Public
$58,882
45Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
$58,861
46Northern Arizona University
AZ · Public
$58,857
47The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
TN · Public
$58,854
48University of Nevada-Las Vegas
NV · Public
$58,719
49Northern Illinois University
IL · Public
$58,546
50Grand Valley State University
MI · Public
$58,413
Below Average Value

Is Hospitality Administration Worth It?

Proceed With a Plan

The financial returns for Hospitality Administration are below average. At $36,214 in average earnings four years out, graduates often face a long payback period, especially at higher-cost institutions. This doesn't mean the field is worthless - it means the financial math demands careful attention to school cost and debt levels.

138 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is Cornell University, where graduates earn $77,803 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.