Tourism and Travel Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring professionals in the dynamic global travel sector, this program equips learners with the strategic and operational expertise needed to lead travel-related businesses and manage complex tourism experiences. Students develop a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s multifaceted systems, from planning immersive travel itineraries to navigating regulatory frameworks and driving sustainable growth.
- Travel Agency Management: Learn the principles of running and optimizing travel agencies, including client acquisition, service delivery, and operational efficiency in a competitive marketplace.
- Tour Arranging and Planning: Master the logistics and creativity involved in designing customized travel experiences, from route development to vendor coordination and risk assessment.
- Convention and Event Planning: Gain hands-on knowledge in organizing large-scale business events, conferences, and incentive travel programs, with emphasis on budgeting, scheduling, and stakeholder engagement.
- Travel Industry Operations and Procedures: Explore the day-to-day functions of travel enterprises, including booking systems, customer service protocols, and technological integration across platforms.
- Tourism Marketing and Promotion Strategies: Develop skills in brand positioning, digital marketing, and audience targeting to effectively promote destinations, services, and travel packages.
- Travel Counseling: Cultivate the ability to guide clients through travel decisions by offering informed advice on destinations, safety, cultural considerations, and personalized travel solutions.
- Travel Industry Law: Understand legal frameworks governing travel contracts, consumer rights, liability, insurance, and compliance with national and international regulations.
- International and Domestic Operations: Examine the distinct challenges and opportunities in managing travel services across borders versus within national boundaries, including visa processes, currency, and cultural adaptation.
- Travel and Tourism Policy: Analyze governmental and institutional policies that shape tourism development, sustainability, infrastructure, and economic impact on local and global scales.
Tourism and Travel Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Tourism and Travel Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Tourism and Travel Management degrees, including Managers, All Other and Personal Service Managers, All Other. 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 641,470 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other 11-9179 | $61,340 | $36,880 - $111,130 | 10,490 | $29.49 |
Tourism and Travel Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $59,840 in Utah to $171,910 in District of Columbia—a 187% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Delaware, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 641,470 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 Tourism and Travel Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 51 institutions offering Tourism and Travel 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 Tourism and Travel Management is found at Texas A & M University, College Station (253 graduates), University of Hawaii (UHM), Manoa (81 graduates), Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (78 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (69 graduates), and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (51 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 921 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
253 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
81 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
78 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
69 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
51 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Colorado Mountain College (CMC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
45 | Glenwood Springs, Colorado | Public | coloradomtn.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
22 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
|
19 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRC) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Public | uprc.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
|
13 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Columbus State Community College (CSCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | cscc.edu |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Santurce, Puerto Rico | Private | sagrado.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
10 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | kbcc.cuny.edu |
| Genesee Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Batavia, New York | Public | genesee.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Other Award
|
9 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Niagara University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| Lorain County Community College (LCCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
7 | Elyria, Ohio | Public | lorainccc.edu |
| Northeastern State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
7 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | nsuok.edu |
| College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) |
Associate's
|
7 | Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia | Public | comfsm.fm |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Other Award
|
5 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Schenectady County Community College (SUNY SCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Schenectady, New York | Public | sunysccc.edu |
| Highline College |
Other Award
|
5 | Des Moines, Washington | Public | highline.edu |
| Guam Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Mangilao, Guam | Public | guamcc.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
4 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
4 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Black Hills State University (BHSU) |
Associate's
|
4 | Spearfish, South Dakota | Public | bhsu.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
|
3 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
|
2 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Master's
|
2 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Sullivan County Community College (SUNY Sullivan) |
Associate's
|
2 | Loch Sheldrake, New York | Public | sunysullivan.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fajardo, Puerto Rico | Private | fajardo.inter.edu |
| United International College (UIC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
2 | Miramar, Florida | Private | uinternational.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) |
Associate's
|
1 | Lima, Ohio | Private | unoh.edu |
| Bucks County Community College |
Other Award
|
1 | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Public | bucks.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Other Award
|
1 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
1 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | metro.inter.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Other Award
|
1 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Tourism and Travel Management programs
How much can I earn with a Tourism and Travel Management degree?
Salaries for Tourism and Travel Management graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Personal Service Managers, All Other earn around $61,340. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $171,910 compared to $59,840 in Utah. Approximately 641,470 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 Tourism and Travel Management programs?
Currently 51 accredited institutions offer Tourism and Travel Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Texas A & M University, College Station (253 graduates), University of Hawaii (UHM), Manoa (81 graduates), and Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (78 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 Tourism and Travel Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,759 in 2010 to a peak of 1,311 in 2020, before declining slightly to 921 in 2023-24. This represents a 48% 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 Tourism and Travel Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Personal Service Managers, All Other, . Related occupations employ approximately 641,470 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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