Hotel and Motel Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for leadership in the dynamic hospitality sector, this program equips students with the strategic and operational expertise needed to oversee lodging establishments serving travelers worldwide. Emphasis is placed on mastering the full spectrum of hotel and motel functions, from guest experience and financial oversight to facility planning and regulatory compliance.
- Hospitality Industry Principles: Foundational knowledge of global hospitality trends, service standards, and customer-centric operations within the lodging sector.
- Supplies Purchasing, Storage, and Control: Techniques for efficient inventory management, cost-effective procurement, and waste reduction in hospitality supply chains.
- Hotel Facilities Design and Planning: Core concepts in space utilization, guest flow optimization, and sustainable design for modern lodging environments.
- Hospitality Industry Law: Legal frameworks governing contracts, guest safety, employment practices, and compliance in lodging operations.
- Personnel Management and Labor Relations: Strategies for hiring, training, performance evaluation, and conflict resolution in diverse hospitality workforces.
- Financial Management: Budgeting, forecasting, revenue analysis, and cost control methods essential for profitability in lodging enterprises.
- Marketing and Sales Promotion: Digital and traditional tactics to enhance brand visibility, drive bookings, and increase occupancy rates.
- Convention and Event Management: Planning, coordination, and execution of meetings, conferences, and special events within hotel settings.
- Front Desk Operations: Core functions of check-in/check-out, guest services, reservation systems, and crisis response in high-volume environments.
- Specialized Lodging Operations: Application of management principles to distinct lodging types, including boutique hotels, resorts, extended-stay properties, and budget motels.
Hotel and Motel Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Hotel and Motel Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Hotel and Motel Management degrees, including Facilities Managers, Business Operations Specialists, All Other and Lodging 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 1,554,870 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers 11-3013 | $104,690 | $62,550 - $173,080 | 141,090 | $50.33 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other 13-1199 | $81,270 | $46,230 - $147,830 | 1,128,200 | $39.07 |
| 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 |
Hotel and Motel Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $63,920 in Arkansas to $100,733 in Washington—a 58% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,554,870 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 Hotel and Motel Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 91 institutions offering Hotel and Motel 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 Hotel and Motel Management is found at Cornell University (337 graduates), University of Houston (UH) (154 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (89 graduates), Valencia College (83 graduates), and New York University (NYU) (59 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,734 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
337 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
154 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
89 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Valencia College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
83 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
58 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
57 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
40 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
40 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Other Award
|
39 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Prince George's Community College (PGCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Largo, Maryland | Public | pgcc.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
35 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
26 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Public | uprc.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Orange Technical College (OTC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Orlando, Florida | Public | orangetechcollege.net |
| Highline College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
21 | Des Moines, Washington | Public | highline.edu |
| Palm Beach State College (PBSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Lake Worth, Florida | Public | palmbeachstate.edu |
| Pensacola State College (PSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
18 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | pensacolastate.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
17 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Private | mayaguez.pucpr.edu |
| Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
16 | Niceville, Florida | Public | nwfsc.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
16 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Chattanooga State Community College |
Associate's
|
14 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | chattanoogastate.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| Indian River State College (IRSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
13 | Fort Pierce, Florida | Public | irsc.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
13 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| Central Texas College (CTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
12 | Killeen, Texas | Public | ctcd.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Mercedita, Puerto Rico | Private | ponce.inter.edu |
| Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) |
Other Award
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | ice.edu |
| Morgan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | morgan.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Princess Anne, Maryland | Public | wwwcp.umes.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Hocking College |
Associate's
|
9 | Nelsonville, Ohio | Public | hocking.edu |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College |
Associate's
|
9 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | southwest.tn.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Private | aguadilla.inter.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
7 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Kirkwood Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Public | kirkwood.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Frederick Community College (FCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Frederick, Maryland | Public | frederick.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Greenville Technical College (GTC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Greenville, South Carolina | Public | gvltec.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
5 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Other Award
|
5 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) |
Associate's
|
5 | Beaufort, South Carolina | Public | tcl.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Other Award
|
5 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
4 | Key West, Florida | Public | cfk.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Public | northampton.edu |
| Nashville State Community College (NSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | nscc.edu |
| Guam Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Mangilao, Guam | Public | guamcc.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Other Award
|
4 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| Cypress College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Normandale Community College |
Other Award
|
3 | Bloomington, Minnesota | Public | normandale.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Delaware County Community College (DCCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Media, Pennsylvania | Public | dccc.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Jackson, Tennessee | Public | tcatjackson.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) |
Associate's
|
2 | Cumberland, Maryland | Public | allegany.edu |
| Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | qcc.edu |
| Middlesex College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Edison, New Jersey | Public | middlesexcollege.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
|
2 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Jacksboro, Tennessee | Public | tcatjacksboro.edu |
| Pellissippi State Community College (PSTCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | pstcc.edu |
| Bethune-Cookman University (B‑CU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | cookman.edu |
| Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
| Triton College |
Associate's
|
1 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
1 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Butler Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | El Dorado, Kansas | Public | butlercc.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| Central Wyoming College (CWC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Riverton, Wyoming | Public | cwc.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | jwu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Hotel and Motel Management programs
How much can I earn with a Hotel and Motel Management degree?
Salaries for Hotel and Motel Management graduates vary by role and location. Facilities Managers earn a median of $104,690 annually, while Business Operations Specialists, All Other earn around $81,270. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $100,733 compared to $63,920 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,554,870 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 Hotel and Motel Management programs?
Currently 91 accredited institutions offer Hotel and Motel Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Cornell University (337 graduates), University of Houston (UH) (154 graduates), and Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (89 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 Hotel and Motel Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,611 in 2010 to a peak of 2,652 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,734 in 2023-24. This represents a 52% 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 Hotel and Motel Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Facilities Managers, Business Operations Specialists, All Other, and Lodging Managers. Related occupations employ approximately 1,554,870 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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