Home Schools San Diego State Hospitality Management
Business · Hospitality Management Rank #4 of 135

Hospitality Managementat San Diego State University

Graduates earn $40,009/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Hospitality Management average. Base-case 10-year earnings $548K; scenarios range from $501K to $553K depending on AI disruption.

San Diego, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
61 SOLID
62
Optimistic
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,009
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$548K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
48% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at San Diego State

The strong performance of SDSU's Hospitality Administration/Management program is deeply rooted in its prime location and robust industry connections. Being situated in San Diego, you're at the epicenter of a thriving tourism and convention market, offering unparalleled access to luxury resorts, major event venues, and a diverse culinary scene. This environment cultivates extensive internship opportunities and strong recruiting pipelines directly into management-track roles, allowing graduates to hit the ground running. The program's reputation within this dynamic regional labor market helps you secure positions with leading employers, often in supervisory capacities that command higher starting salaries. To truly maximize your potential and navigate future industry shifts, actively seek diverse experiences within the field, focusing on developing irreplaceable leadership, guest relations, and strategic problem-solving skills throughout your studies.

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
$501K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple15.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$548K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple16.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$553K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple16.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to San Diego State'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 San Diego State 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
James Madison University
VA · Public
62
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
Boston University
MA · Private nonprofit
40
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Also at San Diego State

Other top programs at San Diego State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at San Diego State, 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 San Diego State

What does a 61/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Hospitality Management at San Diego State University?

At 61/100, San Diego State 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 San Diego State 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 San Diego State University one of the best schools for Hospitality Management?

Among 135 Hospitality Management programs, San Diego State University's #4 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.