Hospitality Administration/Management: George Mason University 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
9.7x
$55,260 tuition
10.5x
$54,304 tuition
Out-of-State
3.4x
$157,588 tuition
4.6x
$123,160 tuition
$534,606 10-yr earnings · Public
$571,194 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

George Mason University James Madison University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 4.6x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $55,260 $54,304
Year 1 Earnings $45,151 $46,915
10-Year Earnings $535K $571K
Median Debt $20,500 $19,875
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.4 months 5.1 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 55/100 56/100
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 76.2%

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

ROI Breakdown

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

George Mason University James Madison University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $55,260 $54,304
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $157,588 $123,160
10-Year Projected Earnings $535K $571K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 4.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +28% +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 Administration/Management (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

George Mason University James Madison University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $539K $535K $491K $579K $571K $519K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 9.8x 9.7x 8.9x 10.7x 10.5x 9.5x
DegreeWorth Score 56 55 46 58 56 48

For the full AI analysis of Hospitality Administration/Management career paths, see the George Mason University or James Madison University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$956
James Madison University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$1,764/yr
James Madison University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
9.7x / 10.5x
Out-of-state: 3.4x / 4.6x

Career Paths

Hospitality Administration/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%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Hospitality Administration/Management: George Mason University or James Madison University?
George Mason University scores 55/100 while James Madison University scores 56/100. James Madison University 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 Administration/Management?
George Mason University has an in-state earnings multiple of 9.7x vs James Madison University's 10.5x. That means James Madison University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do George Mason University and James Madison University compare on Hospitality Administration/Management earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $45,151 at George Mason University vs $46,915 at James Madison University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $534,606 vs $571,194 — a difference of $36,588.
How much does Hospitality Administration/Management cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $55,260 at George Mason University and $54,304 at James Madison University. Median debt at graduation is $20,500 vs $19,875. Both programs lead to the same Hospitality Administration/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.