Hospitality Management: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs James Madison University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
In-State
12.8x
$29,756 tuition
9.4x
$54,304 tuition
Out-of-State
4.9x
$77,276 tuition
4.2x
$123,160 tuition
$33,930/yr starting · Public
$46,915/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona James Madison University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.8x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.2x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,756 $54,304
Year 1 Earnings $33,930 $46,915
10-Year Earnings $381K $512K
Median Debt $15,000 $19,875
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.3 months 5.1 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 69/100 72/100
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 76.2%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Hospitality Management graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Hospitality Management graduates.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona James Madison University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,756 $54,304
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $77,276 $123,160
10-Year Projected Earnings $381K $512K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.8x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.2x
5-Year Salary Growth +47% +39%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Hospitality Management (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona James Madison University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $544K $381K $254K $700K $512K $352K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 18.3x 12.8x 8.5x 12.9x 9.4x 6.5x
DegreeWorth Score 71 69 62 74 72 67

For the full AI analysis of Hospitality Management career paths, see the California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or James Madison University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Hospitality Management graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$24,548
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$12,985/yr
James Madison University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
12.8x / 9.4x
Out-of-state: 4.9x / 4.2x

Career Paths

Hospitality Management graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Facilities managers $104,690 13,200 +3.8% 48%
Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270 8,100 +5.7% 49%
Gambling managers $85,580 600 +1.2% 57%
Business operations specialists, all other $81,270 108,200 +3.0% 52%
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling $77,180 5,500 +7.7% 35%
Lodging managers $68,130 5,400 +3.4% 46%
Food service managers $65,310 42,000 +6.4% 42%

Explore Each Program

More Hospitality Management Comparisons

Hospitality Management Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Hospitality Management: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or James Madison University?
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona scores 69/100 while James Madison University scores 72/100. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Hospitality Management?
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona has an in-state earnings multiple of 12.8x vs James Madison University's 9.4x. That means California State Polytechnic University-Pomona grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $24,548 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and James Madison University compare on Hospitality Management earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $33,930 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs $46,915 at James Madison University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $381,449 vs $511,609 — a difference of $130,160.
How much does Hospitality Management cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $29,756 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and $54,304 at James Madison University. Median debt at graduation is $15,000 vs $19,875. Both programs lead to the same Hospitality Management career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.