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Sector Analysis · Business

Best Hospitality Management Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)

135 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Hospitality Management, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Hospitality Management graduate earns $35,218/yr across 135 schools.

What do Hospitality Management graduates do? See career paths and salaries →

Why Cornell Is Untouchable at #1

Cornell isn't just a hospitality program; it's an Ivy League business school for the hotel industry, and its outcomes reflect that. The staggering $77,803/yr average earnings, over $20,000 more than any other school on the list, signals that graduates are on a different track. They aren't just managing hotels; they're fast-tracked into corporate leadership, real estate finance, and global consulting, leveraging the school's NYC presence and legendary alumni network. The low 2.7x ROI is a function of its high private tuition; for students targeting the industry's C-suite, the absolute earnings power is unmatched.

The Smart Money Might Be on the Public Powerhouses

While Cornell holds the top spot, the rankings reveal that public universities offer the most efficient path to a successful career. Schools like Florida Atlantic University (#6) deliver a massive 26.4x ROI by combining very low tuition ($19,516) with solid career outcomes in a major tourism hub. This highlights a key choice for students: are you aiming for the high-cost, high-prestige corporate track offered by an elite private school, or an extremely high-value path to a management role offered by a state university?

Your Job Isn't Disappearing, It's Getting More Human

The 48% AI risk score across top programs doesn't mean a robot is taking your job; it means the boring parts are being automated. Routine tasks like inventory, basic scheduling, and bookings are now handled by software, which frees you to focus on what technology can't replicate. Your future value will come from leading teams through a crisis, negotiating complex vendor contracts, and providing the creative, high-touch problem-solving that defines five-star service. This degree is becoming less about operations and more about data-driven human leadership.

Why Public Universities Dominate the Top 20

It's no accident that 18 of the top 20 programs are at public universities. Hospitality is a hands-on, place-based industry, and state schools in tourism powerhouses like Florida (3 schools in the top 10), California (3 in the top 20), and Virginia (3 in the top 20) excel at this. They build deep partnerships with regional resorts, hotel chains, and event venues, creating an affordable, direct pipeline from the classroom to a management career in the local economy, making them the pragmatic choice for the vast majority of students.

Programs Ranked

135

Avg Earnings

$35,218/yr

Avg DW Score

47/100

AI Risk

High

48% task exposure

Top Institutions

Leading the field for Hospitality Management

The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 135 programs below.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 64

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit

$77,8031-yr earnings

2.7xROI multiple

HighAI risk

Texas Tech University

TX · #2

$41,506/yr · 13.2x ROI

James Madison University

VA · #3

$46,915/yr · 11.0x ROI

San Diego State University

CA · #4

$40,009/yr · 16.7x ROI

The Ranking Matrix

All Hospitality Management Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

Sort by

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Cornell University Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit	64 58–64	$77,803/yr	2.7x
2	Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX · Public	62 54–62	$41,506/yr	13.2x
3	James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA · Public	62 54–63	$46,915/yr	11.0x
4	San Diego State University San Diego, CA · Public	61 53–62	$40,009/yr	16.7x
5	Utah Valley University Orem, UT · Public	61 53–62	$42,070/yr	19.9x
6	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL · Public	60 52–60	$36,827/yr	26.4x
7	California State University-East Bay Hayward, CA · Public	59 52–60	$34,015/yr	21.0x
8	George Washington University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit	59 51–59	$53,625/yr	2.6x
9	Florida State University Tallahassee, FL · Public	59 51–60	$37,330/yr	22.4x
10	Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL · Public	59 51–59	$39,108/yr	19.7x
11	University of Delaware Newark, DE · Public	58 49–58	$37,563/yr	10.3x
12	University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI · Public	58 50–59	$43,359/yr	12.3x
13	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public	58 50–59	$41,099/yr	12.9x
14	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public	57 49–57	$34,153/yr	18.0x
15	Kansas State University Manhattan, KS · Public	57 49–58	$42,073/yr	11.6x
16	University of Mississippi University, MS · Public	57 49–57	$34,282/yr	15.3x
17	Appalachian State University Boone, NC · Public	57 49–57	$33,702/yr	18.2x
18	East Carolina University Greenville, NC · Public	57 49–57	$38,049/yr	16.4x
19	George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public	57 49–58	$45,151/yr	9.4x
20	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA · Public	57 49–58	$45,771/yr	8.7x
21	American Public University System Charles Town, WV · Private for-profit	57 49–58	$37,174/yr	15.4x
22	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE · Public	56 48–57	$39,689/yr	12.5x
23	University of South Florida Tampa, FL · Public	55 48–56	$34,703/yr	18.9x
24	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public	55 47–56	$41,069/yr	8.7x
25	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK · Public	55 47–55	$35,878/yr	12.9x
26	Washington State University Pullman, WA · Public	55 47–55	$41,251/yr	9.8x
27	University of Central Florida Orlando, FL · Public	54 46–54	$33,624/yr	18.5x
28	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA · Public	54 46–55	$39,266/yr	8.1x
29	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND · Public	54 46–55	$41,984/yr	10.7x
30	University of North Texas Denton, TX · Public	54 46–55	$41,183/yr	10.5x
31	Auburn University Auburn, AL · Public	53 45–54	$40,664/yr	9.6x
32	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA · Public	53 45–53	$33,930/yr	15.8x
33	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO · Public	53 45–54	$41,688/yr	9.3x
34	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO · Public	53 45–54	$38,351/yr	11.2x
35	Florida International University Miami, FL · Public	53 46–54	$33,364/yr	17.8x
36	Iowa State University Ames, IA · Public	53 45–53	$36,743/yr	11.6x
37	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV · Public	53 45–53	$35,277/yr	13.1x
38	College of Charleston Charleston, SC · Public	53 44–53	$39,688/yr	9.4x
39	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public	52 44–52	$34,560/yr	15.6x
40	Georgia State University Atlanta, GA · Public	52 45–53	$32,939/yr	14.6x
41	Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO · Public	52 44–52	$36,451/yr	12.5x
42	Campbell University Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit	52 44–52	$44,464/yr	3.2x
43	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC · Public	52 45–52	$31,952/yr	15.8x
44	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public	52 44–53	$36,986/yr	10.0x
45	East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA · Public	52 44–53	$38,531/yr	10.5x
46	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX · Public	52 44–53	$35,569/yr	12.9x
47	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN · Public	52 44–53	$39,017/yr	12.5x
48	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY · Public	51 43–52	$39,099/yr	11.6x
49	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC · Public	51 45–51	$29,395/yr	24.9x
50	University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC · Public	51 43–51	$36,690/yr	9.5x
51	South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public	51 43–51	$32,512/yr	13.1x
52	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN · Public	51 44–52	$36,439/yr	9.5x
53	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA · Public	51 43–52	$35,039/yr	14.1x
54	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ · Public	50 42–51	$37,402/yr	9.3x
55	National Louis University Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit	50 42–51	$42,196/yr	8.5x
56	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Public	50 42–50	$37,151/yr	10.5x
57	Fort Hays State University Hays, KS · Public	50 43–51	$34,004/yr	14.1x
58	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO · Public	50 42–51	$38,916/yr	8.3x
59	Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit	50 42–50	$37,829/yr	7.5x
60	University of Houston Houston, TX · Public	50 43–50	$32,639/yr	12.4x
61	University of West Florida Pensacola, FL · Public	49 42–50	$34,656/yr	15.2x
62	Morgan State University Baltimore, MD · Public	49 41–50	$36,845/yr	12.1x
63	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI · Public	49 41–50	$37,187/yr	8.3x
64	University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH · Public	49 41–50	$36,590/yr	6.7x
65	Kent State University at Ashtabula Ashtabula, OH · Public	49 41–49	$31,926/yr	14.6x
66	California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, CA · Public	49 41–50	$35,760/yr	11.0x
67	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public	48 41–49	$33,869/yr	9.8x
68	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN · Public	48 41–49	$34,013/yr	11.8x
69	University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton, SC · Public	48 40–49	$34,503/yr	10.4x
70	The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL · Public	47 40–48	$32,178/yr	10.0x
71	California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA · Public	47 43–48	$25,340/yr	17.1x
72	Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT · Public	47 39–47	$33,685/yr	9.2x
73	University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD · Public	47 40–48	$36,472/yr	10.9x
74	Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO · Public	47 39–47	$34,395/yr	10.9x
75	Husson University Bangor, ME · Private nonprofit	47 38–47	$40,812/yr	3.6x
76	Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA · Public	46 38–47	$35,452/yr	10.6x
77	York College of Pennsylvania York, PA · Private nonprofit	46 38–46	$37,238/yr	4.5x
78	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public	46 38–47	$37,743/yr	6.2x
79	University of Denver Denver, CO · Private nonprofit	45 37–46	$47,679/yr	1.6x
80	Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI · Public	45 38–46	$35,406/yr	7.4x
81	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofit	45 37–46	$38,330/yr	3.2x
82	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Madison, NJ · Private nonprofit	45 37–46	$38,330/yr	3.2x
83	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY · Public	45 38–46	$31,629/yr	11.9x
84	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, PA · Public	45 39–46	$30,307/yr	10.1x
85	Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC · Public	45 38–46	$34,300/yr	9.0x
86	Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, IN · Public	44 37–45	$32,325/yr	8.9x
87	University of Kentucky Lexington, KY · Public	44 39–45	$27,809/yr	9.5x
88	New York University New York, NY · Private nonprofit	44 35–44	$40,637/yr	1.8x
89	Temple University Philadelphia, PA · Public	44 37–45	$35,339/yr	5.0x
90	Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX · Public	44 38–45	$30,758/yr	10.3x
91	University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA · Public	43 37–43	$27,878/yr	11.5x
92	Stockton University Galloway, NJ · Public	43 36–43	$30,833/yr	7.4x
93	University of Memphis Memphis, TN · Public	43 36–44	$31,190/yr	9.9x
94	Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, RI · Private nonprofit	43 35–43	$33,374/yr	7.6x
95	Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ · Private for-profit	42 35–43	$34,370/yr	3.9x
96	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL · Public	42 35–42	$32,337/yr	5.4x
97	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM · Public	42 36–43	$29,942/yr	11.3x
98	Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH · Public	42 35–42	$31,926/yr	7.8x
99	Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL · Private nonprofit	41 35–41	$28,130/yr	4.5x
100	Roosevelt University Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit	41 33–41	$35,871/yr	4.3x
101	Lasell University Newton, MA · Private nonprofit	41 34–41	$31,858/yr	4.3x
102	Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI · Public	41 35–41	$29,405/yr	7.1x
103	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY · Public	41 36–42	$27,450/yr	11.3x
104	North Carolina Central University Durham, NC · Public	41 36–42	$27,752/yr	9.6x
105	West Virginia University Morgantown, WV · Public	41 35–41	$30,363/yr	6.9x
106	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY · Public	40 34–41	$29,492/yr	8.7x
107	University of Southern Maine Portland, ME · Public	40 34–41	$29,924/yr	5.9x
108	Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit	40 32–41	$44,657/yr	1.0x
109	Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH · Public	40 35–41	$28,245/yr	9.4x
110	University of South Alabama Mobile, AL · Public	39 33–39	$28,310/yr	6.3x
111	Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR · Public	39 34–40	$27,969/yr	7.2x
112	ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit	39 32–40	$33,711/yr	4.7x
113	Ball State University Muncie, IN · Public	38 33–39	$28,071/yr	5.5x
114	Endicott College Beverly, MA · Private nonprofit	38 30–38	$34,562/yr	2.3x
115	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Public	38 31–39	$33,228/yr	5.5x
116	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY · Public	38 34–39	$25,494/yr	11.6x
117	Widener University Chester, PA · Private nonprofit	38 30–39	$37,861/yr	1.6x
118	University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA · Public	37 31–38	$28,587/yr	8.1x
119	Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY · Private nonprofit	37 29–37	$35,865/yr	2.0x
120	Niagara University Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofit	37 30–37	$31,790/yr	2.6x
121	Walnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profit	37 30–37	$30,352/yr	2.2x
122	Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA · Private nonprofit	37 30–37	$32,255/yr	1.3x
123	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI · Public	36 30–36	$29,002/yr	6.4x
124	DePaul University Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit	36 28–37	$34,722/yr	1.9x
125	Flagler College Saint Augustine, FL · Private nonprofit	35 29–36	$29,632/yr	1.8x
126	Mercyhurst University Erie, PA · Private nonprofit	35 28–36	$34,675/yr	1.7x
127	Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit	34 26–34	$35,449/yr	0.8x
128	Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI · Private nonprofit	34 27–35	$33,374/yr	1.9x
129	Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit	34 27–35	$33,374/yr	1.9x
130	Monroe College Bronx, NY · Private for-profit	33 28–34	$26,930/yr	4.7x
131	Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI · Public	31 28–31	$21,074/yr	6.1x
132	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofit	30 26–31	$24,571/yr	0.8x
133	St. John's University-New York Queens, NY · Private nonprofit	30 24–31	$29,391/yr	1.4x
134	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina, PR · Private nonprofit	30 28–31	$14,978/yr	9.1x
135	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY · Private nonprofit	29 26–30	$22,974/yr	0.3x

FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the best school for Hospitality Management?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, Cornell University ranks #1 for Hospitality Management with a score of 64/100 and graduate earnings of $77,803/yr.

How much do Hospitality Management graduates earn?

Across 135 schools, Hospitality Management graduates earn an average of $35,218/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $77,803/yr.

Is Hospitality Management a good major for AI resistance?

Hospitality Management has an average AI task exposure of 48%, rated "High". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.

Programs are ranked by DegreeOutlook Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.