Hospitality Management: James Madison University vs San Francisco State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
In-State
9.4x
$54,304 tuition
13.8x
$29,696 tuition
Out-of-State
4.2x
$123,160 tuition
5.3x
$77,216 tuition
$46,915/yr starting · Public
$34,153/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

James Madison University San Francisco State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.4x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 5.3x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $54,304 $29,696
Year 1 Earnings $46,915 $34,153
10-Year Earnings $512K $411K
Median Debt $19,875 $14,125
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.1 months 5.0 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 72/100 70/100
Acceptance Rate 76.2% 96.2%

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.

James Madison University San Francisco State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $54,304 $29,696
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $123,160 $77,216
10-Year Projected Earnings $512K $411K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.4x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 5.3x
5-Year Salary Growth +39% +65%

"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.

James Madison University San Francisco State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $700K $512K $352K $642K $411K $256K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 12.9x 9.4x 6.5x 21.6x 13.8x 8.6x
DegreeWorth Score 74 72 67 73 70 62

For the full AI analysis of Hospitality Management career paths, see the James Madison University or San Francisco State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$24,608
San Francisco State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$12,762/yr
James Madison University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
9.4x / 13.8x
Out-of-state: 4.2x / 5.3x

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: James Madison University or San Francisco State University?
James Madison University scores 72/100 while San Francisco State University scores 70/100. San Francisco State 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 Management?
James Madison University has an in-state earnings multiple of 9.4x vs San Francisco State University's 13.8x. That means San Francisco State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $24,608 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do James Madison University and San Francisco State University compare on Hospitality Management earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $46,915 at James Madison University vs $34,153 at San Francisco State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $511,609 vs $411,142 — a difference of $100,467.
How much does Hospitality Management cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $54,304 at James Madison University and $29,696 at San Francisco State University. Median debt at graduation is $19,875 vs $14,125. 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.