Best Schools for Hospitality Administration/Management

Hospitality Administration/Management graduates earn a median of $56,190 within four years of graduating, ranking #134 out of 283 tracked majors — 10% below the median across all fields. There are 151 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 13,176 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Cornell University graduates earn $112,289 while Universidad del Sagrado Corazon graduates earn $30,051 — a $82,238 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Hospitality Administration/Management graduates see an average 1% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

151
Schools
$56,190
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#134
of 283 Majors
13,176
Graduates

Public vs Private: Hospitality Administration/Management

Public (109 schools)
$54,758
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (38 schools)
$63,424
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $8,666 more in early earnings on average for Hospitality Administration/Management graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Hospitality Administration/Management by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia

Top Hospitality Administration/Management Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
Cornell University logo

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$112,289
4yr Earnings
165 grads
2yr: $61,124 (177)
1yr: $66,090 (172)
Acceptance: 8.2%
#2
New York University logo

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$84,375
4yr Earnings
35 grads
2yr: $55,964 (51)
1yr: $51,999 (39)
Acceptance: 9.4%
#3
Boston University logo

Boston University

Boston, MA · Private

$82,302
4yr Earnings
60 grads
2yr: $47,650 (66)
1yr: $46,076 (69)
Acceptance: 10.8%
#4
University of San Francisco logo

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$77,757
4yr Earnings
19 grads · small sample
2yr: $52,107 (26)
1yr: $48,649 (17)
Acceptance: 50.8%
#5
George Washington University logo

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$75,683
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $56,415 (34)
1yr: $52,591 (19)
Acceptance: 43.5%
#6
University of Denver logo

University of Denver

Denver, CO · Private

$75,118
4yr Earnings
24 grads · small sample
2yr: $43,426 (34)
1yr: $43,996 (28)
Acceptance: 71.2%
#7
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University logo

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$72,817
4yr Earnings
56 grads
2yr: $46,478 (62)
1yr: $47,314 (66)
Acceptance: 57.0%
#8
DePaul University logo

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$71,556
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $42,682 (57)
1yr: $43,199 (38)
Acceptance: 73.5%
#9
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus logo

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus

Teaneck, NJ · Private

$71,188
4yr Earnings
35 grads
2yr: $41,937 (30)
1yr: $40,209 (29)
Acceptance: 95.9%
#10
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus logo

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

Madison, NJ · Private

$71,188
4yr Earnings
35 grads
2yr: $41,937 (30)
1yr: $40,209 (29)
Acceptance: 95.3%
#11
University of Delaware logo

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$71,102
4yr Earnings
116 grads
2yr: $48,432 (42)
1yr: $45,097 (115)
Acceptance: 65.1%
#12
University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

$70,916
4yr Earnings
143 grads
2yr: $43,922 (125)
1yr: $45,299 (185)
Acceptance: 57.8%
#13
San Diego State University logo

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$70,113
4yr Earnings
97 grads
2yr: $36,992 (27)
1yr: $43,577 (110)
Acceptance: 34.4%
#14
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$69,651
4yr Earnings
211 grads
2yr: $43,269 (218)
1yr: $45,050 (239)
Acceptance: 83.9%
#15
Lasell University logo

Lasell University

Newton, MA · Private

$68,693
4yr Earnings
38 grads
2yr: $39,369 (34)
1yr: $39,249 (35)
Acceptance: 82.3%
#16
West Virginia University logo

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

$68,473
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
1yr: $38,872 (18)
Acceptance: 86.3%
#17
Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$66,874
4yr Earnings
87 grads
2yr: $44,170 (68)
1yr: $38,870 (95)
Acceptance: 85.4%
#18
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus logo

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

$66,046
4yr Earnings
55 grads
2yr: $44,244 (57)
1yr: $45,038 (62)
Acceptance: 86.9%
#19
California State University-East Bay logo

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$65,655
4yr Earnings
33 grads
2yr: $36,848 (31)
1yr: $42,683 (54)
Acceptance: 96.8%
#20
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$65,510
4yr Earnings
121 grads
2yr: $44,755 (149)
1yr: $45,806 (142)
Acceptance: 96.2%
#21
James Madison University logo

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

$65,016
4yr Earnings
134 grads
2yr: $44,542 (130)
1yr: $43,827 (140)
Acceptance: 76.3%
#22
York College of Pennsylvania logo

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA · Private

$64,754
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $31,133 (17)
1yr: $34,398 (36)
Acceptance: 94.2%
#23
Southern New Hampshire University logo

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH · Private

$64,526
4yr Earnings
27 grads · small sample
2yr: $42,682 (30)
1yr: $43,730 (30)
Acceptance: 96.1%
#24
Arizona State University Campus Immersion logo

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$64,315
4yr Earnings
90 grads
2yr: $36,938 (57)
1yr: $36,958 (77)
Acceptance: 90.2%
#25
College of Charleston logo

College of Charleston

Charleston, SC · Public

$64,154
4yr Earnings
73 grads
2yr: $39,009 (75)
1yr: $35,234 (70)
Acceptance: 72.0%
#26
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley

Center Valley, PA · Public

$63,798
4yr Earnings
168 grads
2yr: $46,608 (246)
1yr: $45,612 (212)
Acceptance: 94.2%
#27
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Reading, PA · Public

$63,798
4yr Earnings
168 grads
2yr: $46,608 (246)
1yr: $45,612 (212)
Acceptance: 97.1%
#28
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$63,798
4yr Earnings
168 grads
2yr: $46,608 (246)
1yr: $45,612 (212)
Acceptance: 54.2%
#29
Auburn University logo

Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public

$63,419
4yr Earnings
27 grads · small sample
2yr: $42,682 (34)
1yr: $42,369 (32)
Acceptance: 50.5%
#30
Campbell University logo

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC · Private

$63,402
4yr Earnings
27 grads · small sample
2yr: $39,729 (17)
1yr: $37,638 (24)
Acceptance: 94.3%
#31
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

$62,727
4yr Earnings
62 grads
2yr: $42,682 (69)
1yr: $42,258 (77)
Acceptance: 88.8%
#32
Florida State University logo

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$62,673
4yr Earnings
192 grads
2yr: $40,780 (232)
1yr: $36,876 (193)
Acceptance: 25.4%
#33
Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$62,556
4yr Earnings
57 grads
2yr: $37,748 (56)
1yr: $39,409 (62)
Acceptance: 89.6%
#34
University of Missouri-Columbia logo

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

$61,441
4yr Earnings
158 grads
2yr: $35,500 (89)
1yr: $38,633 (153)
Acceptance: 77.0%
#35
National Louis University logo

National Louis University

Chicago, IL · Private

$61,413
4yr Earnings
37 grads
2yr: $40,140 (53)
1yr: $40,761 (52)
Acceptance: 93.1%
#36
Endicott College logo

Endicott College

Beverly, MA · Private

$60,969
4yr Earnings
51 grads
2yr: $42,682 (60)
1yr: $41,770 (53)
Acceptance: 72.3%
#37
Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$60,347
4yr Earnings
132 grads
2yr: $42,570 (126)
1yr: $41,472 (132)
Acceptance: 82.9%
#38
University of Hawaii at Manoa logo

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$60,157
4yr Earnings
90 grads
2yr: $42,433 (90)
1yr: $42,173 (98)
Acceptance: 69.7%
#39
St. Joseph's University-New York logo

St. Joseph's University-New York

Brooklyn, NY · Private

$60,041
4yr Earnings
43 grads
2yr: $35,420 (12)
1yr: $37,279 (40)
Acceptance: 71.4%
#40
Florida Gulf Coast University logo

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL · Public

$60,011
4yr Earnings
213 grads
2yr: $34,633 (181)
1yr: $37,359 (182)
Acceptance: 76.8%
#41
New York Institute of Technology logo

New York Institute of Technology

Old Westbury, NY · Private

$59,490
4yr Earnings
31 grads
2yr: $33,993 (15)
Acceptance: 78.1%
#42
Georgia State University logo

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA · Public

$59,089
4yr Earnings
77 grads
2yr: $35,635 (87)
1yr: $34,787 (93)
Acceptance: 62.3%
#43
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania logo

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, PA · Public

$58,882
4yr Earnings
43 grads
2yr: $36,848 (50)
1yr: $31,107 (54)
Acceptance: 92.9%
#44
Purdue University-Main Campus logo

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$58,861
4yr Earnings
108 grads
2yr: $45,082 (90)
1yr: $41,273 (129)
Acceptance: 50.3%
#45
Northern Arizona University logo

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public

$58,857
4yr Earnings
242 grads
2yr: $39,257 (224)
1yr: $37,974 (236)
Acceptance: 91.0%
#46
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville logo

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

$58,854
4yr Earnings
45 grads
2yr: $39,009 (50)
1yr: $36,105 (60)
Acceptance: 46.0%
#47
University of Nevada-Las Vegas logo

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV · Public

$58,719
4yr Earnings
399 grads
2yr: $42,073 (311)
1yr: $39,615 (418)
Acceptance: 96.3%
#48
Northern Illinois University logo

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

$58,546
4yr Earnings
38 grads
1yr: $42,692 (30)
Acceptance: 70.5%
#49
Grand Valley State University logo

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public

$58,413
4yr Earnings
105 grads
2yr: $34,779 (138)
1yr: $35,325 (131)
Acceptance: 94.7%
#50
Kansas State University logo

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$58,282
4yr Earnings
52 grads
2yr: $35,600 (20)
1yr: $36,706 (45)
Acceptance: 79.4%

Showing top 50 of 151 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Hospitality Administration/Management?
Cornell University ranks #1 for Hospitality Administration/Management with median graduate earnings of $112,289 within four years of graduating. There are 151 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Hospitality Administration/Management graduates earn?
Hospitality Administration/Management graduates earn an average of $56,190 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $30,051 to $112,289 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Hospitality Administration/Management program?
The average acceptance rate across Hospitality Administration/Management programs is 76.8%. The most selective program is at Cornell University with a 8.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Hospitality Administration/Management?
Private Hospitality Administration/Management programs average $63,424 in early earnings vs $54,758 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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