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Business · Hospitality Management Rank #3 of 135

Hospitality Managementat James Madison University

Graduates earn $46,915/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Hospitality Management average. Base-case 10-year earnings $571K; scenarios range from $519K to $579K depending on AI disruption.

Harrisonburg, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
63
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,915
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$571K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
48% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at James Madison University

JMU's Hospitality program consistently delivers strong outcomes, reflecting its robust practical curriculum and strategic industry connections. Your success isn't just about classroom learning; it's built on a foundation of hands-on experience and a reputation that attracts recruiters from across the mid-Atlantic and beyond. Graduates frequently step into management roles at major hotel brands like Marriott and Hilton, upscale resorts, convention centers, and large-scale event management companies, often in operational leadership. While Harrisonburg offers a regional tourism base, many alumni leverage the program's network to secure positions in larger markets like DC, Richmond, and nationwide. Even as the industry embraces new technologies, your role as a manager will increasingly involve leveraging these tools and leading teams through change, rather than being replaced by them. To maximize your career trajectory, actively pursue diverse internships and build your professional network from day one.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$519K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple9.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$571K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple10.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$579K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to James Madison University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Hospitality Management graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Facilities managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 13,200 openings/yr
$104,690/yr
Moderate
3
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
4
Gambling managers
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 600 openings/yr
$85,580/yr
High
5
Business operations specialists, all other
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 108,200 openings/yr
$81,270/yr
High
6
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
+7.7% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$77,180/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Hospitality Management

How James Madison University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
2.7x
ROI
George Washington University
DC · Private nonprofit
59
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
University of Denver
CO · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
1.6x
ROI
Boston University
MA · Private nonprofit
40
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Utah Valley University
UT · Public
61
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
19.9x
ROI
Also at James Madison University

Other top programs at James Madison University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at James Madison University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Hospitality Management offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Hospitality Management trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Hospitality Management at James Madison University

What does a 62/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Hospitality Management at James Madison University?

At 62/100, James Madison University's Hospitality Management program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Hospitality Management at James Madison University?

The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is James Madison University one of the best schools for Hospitality Management?

Among 135 Hospitality Management programs, James Madison University's #3 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.