Hospitality Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring leaders in the global hospitality sector, this program equips students with the strategic and operational expertise needed to manage complex, multi-faceted hospitality enterprises. It emphasizes system-wide oversight across travel, lodging, dining, and leisure services, preparing graduates for executive roles in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
- Operations Management in Hospitality: Explores the core functions and daily processes essential to running hotels, resorts, restaurants, and travel agencies efficiently and effectively.
- Travel and Tourism Industry Dynamics: Examines global travel trends, destination management, and the interplay between tourism development and local economies.
- Hotel and Lodging Facility Leadership: Focuses on front-office operations, guest services, housekeeping standards, and revenue optimization within hospitality accommodations.
- Food Service and Culinary Operations: Covers restaurant management, menu engineering, food safety protocols, and service excellence in diverse dining environments.
- Recreation and Leisure Services Management: Addresses planning, staffing, and delivery of entertainment, wellness, and recreational experiences for guests and clients.
- Strategic Hospitality Marketing: Teaches brand development, digital marketing, customer engagement, and promotional campaigns tailored to the hospitality market.
- Franchise and Unit Coordination: Provides insight into managing multiple locations under a single brand, including standardization, performance monitoring, and support systems.
- Business and Financial Management: Builds competency in budgeting, cost control, profit analysis, and financial reporting within hospitality contexts.
- Transportation and Logistics in Hospitality: Investigates the integration of ground transport, airline partnerships, and supply chain logistics to enhance guest experiences.
- Industry Policies and Regulatory Compliance: Ensures understanding of legal frameworks, labor laws, health and safety standards, and international regulations affecting hospitality operations.
Hospitality Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Hospitality Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Hospitality Management degrees, including Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, Lodging Managers and Food Service Managers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 332,770 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling 11-9072 | $77,180 | $45,320 - $134,680 | 36,700 | $37.11 |
| Lodging Managers 11-9081 | $68,130 | $39,490 - $126,990 | 41,350 | $32.76 |
| Food Service Managers 11-9051 | $65,310 | $42,380 - $105,420 | 244,230 | $31.40 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other 11-9179 | $61,340 | $36,880 - $111,130 | 10,490 | $29.49 |
Hospitality Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,500 in Arkansas to $93,570 in Rhode Island—a 75% difference. The highest-paying states include Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 332,770 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Hospitality Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Hospitality Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Hospitality Management is found at Florida International University (FIU) (914 graduates), University of Central Florida (UCF) (518 graduates), University of Nevada (UNLV), Las Vegas (453 graduates), California State Polytechnic University (CPP), Pomona (176 graduates), and Sinclair Community College (175 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,577 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
914 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
518 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
453 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
176 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
175 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
165 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
161 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
155 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Ensign College |
Other Award
|
138 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | ensign.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
134 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
127 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Bachelor's
|
123 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
97 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
96 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
91 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
|
86 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Monroe College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
76 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Kapiolani Community College (KCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
72 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | kapiolani.hawaii.edu |
| Central Texas College (CTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
71 | Killeen, Texas | Public | ctcd.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
70 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
63 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
61 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
57 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
56 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
54 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
51 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Stockton University |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Galloway, New Jersey | Public | stockton.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
49 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
42 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
38 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Colorado Mountain College (CMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Glenwood Springs, Colorado | Public | coloradomtn.edu |
| Grayson College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
35 | Denison, Texas | Public | grayson.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
34 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Other Award
|
33 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYUH) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Laie, Hawaii | Private | byuh.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
30 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Cornell University |
Master's
|
29 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
29 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Chemeketa Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Salem, Oregon | Public | chemeketa.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | North Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uaptc.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | jeffersonstate.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Other Award
|
25 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USCB) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Bluffton, South Carolina | Public | uscb.edu |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Bryant & Stratton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | Orchard Park, New York | Private | bryantstratton.edu |
| Coastal Alabama Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Bay Minette, Alabama | Public | coastalalabama.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Lynn University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Boca Raton, Florida | Private | lynn.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| University of New Orleans (UNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | new.uno.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU Metro) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Teaneck, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| Columbus State Community College (CSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | cscc.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| Endicott College |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | endicott.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
17 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | Public | mc3.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Hospitality Management programs
How much can I earn with a Hospitality Management degree?
Salaries for Hospitality Management graduates vary by role and location. Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling earn a median of $77,180 annually, while Lodging Managers earn around $68,130. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Rhode Island average $93,570 compared to $53,500 in Arkansas. Approximately 332,770 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Hospitality Management programs?
Currently 366 accredited institutions offer Hospitality Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Florida International University (FIU) (914 graduates), University of Central Florida (UCF) (518 graduates), and University of Nevada (UNLV), Las Vegas (453 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Hospitality Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 8,566 in 2010 to a peak of 10,363 in 2020, before declining slightly to 8,041 in 2023-24. This represents a 6% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Hospitality Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, Lodging Managers, and Food Service Managers. Related occupations employ approximately 332,770 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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