Restaurant and Food Services Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring leaders in the dynamic foodservice sector, this program equips students with the strategic, operational, and managerial expertise needed to succeed in restaurants, hospitality venues, multi-unit chains, franchise systems, and supply distribution networks. Graduates emerge with a comprehensive understanding of how to design, launch, and sustain high-performing food service enterprises in competitive, fast-paced environments.
- Hospitality Administration: Core principles of managing hospitality operations, including service standards, guest experience, and organizational leadership within foodservice contexts.
- Food Services Management: Techniques for overseeing daily kitchen and dining operations, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and compliance across all service points.
- Wholesale Logistics and Distribution: Strategies for managing the flow of food, equipment, and supplies from suppliers to point-of-service, emphasizing cost control and supply chain reliability.
- Franchise Operations: In-depth study of franchising models, including legal frameworks, brand standards, operational scalability, and franchisee support systems.
- Business Networking: Development of professional relationships and strategic partnerships that enhance market access, supplier alliances, and business growth opportunities.
- Personnel Management: Best practices in recruiting, training, scheduling, and retaining staff, with emphasis on team culture and performance management.
- Culinary Arts: Foundational knowledge of cooking techniques, menu development, food safety, and the integration of culinary innovation into business strategy.
- Business Planning and Capitalization: Methods for creating viable business plans, securing funding, and managing financial projections for startup and expansion phases.
- Food Industry Operations: Analysis of operational workflows, equipment utilization, inventory control, and process optimization within commercial foodservice settings.
- Marketing and Retailing: Approaches to branding, customer engagement, digital marketing, menu pricing, and retail strategies tailored to foodservice environments.
- Business Law and Regulations: Understanding of legal requirements related to food safety, labor practices, licensing, zoning, and compliance in the foodservice industry.
- Finance and Accounting: Tools for budgeting, cost analysis, profit margin tracking, and financial reporting to support data-driven decision-making.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Exploration of integrity, accountability, sustainability, and ethical leadership in foodservice management and customer relations.
Restaurant and Food Services Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Restaurant and Food Services Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Restaurant and Food Services Management degrees, including 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 285,580 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Restaurant and Food Services Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,930 in Arkansas to $94,470 in Hawaii—a 89% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 285,580 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 Restaurant and Food Services Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 45 institutions offering Restaurant and Food Services 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 Restaurant and Food Services Management is found at Culinary Institute of America (CIA) (259 graduates), Central Texas College (CTC) (82 graduates), Sinclair Community College (41 graduates), Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins (40 graduates), and University of Central Florida (UCF) (33 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 730 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Culinary Institute of America (CIA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
259 | Hyde Park, New York | Private | ciachef.edu |
Central Texas College (CTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
82 | Killeen, Texas | Public | ctcd.edu |
Sinclair Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
41 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
University of Southern California (USC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
32 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
|
32 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
Valencia College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
29 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
19 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Other Award
|
14 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
ECPI University (ECPI) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
Pensacola State College (PSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
13 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | pensacolastate.edu |
Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11 | Niceville, Florida | Public | nwfsc.edu |
Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
Palm Beach State College (PBSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Lake Worth, Florida | Public | palmbeachstate.edu |
University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
American Public University System (APUS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
Daytona State College (DSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Public | daytonastate.edu |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
5 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
Triton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
Erie Community College (SUNY Erie) |
Associate's
|
4 | Buffalo, New York | Public | ecc.edu |
Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | qcc.edu |
Atlantic Cape Community College |
Associate's
|
3 | Mays Landing, New Jersey | Public | atlanticcape.edu |
Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Public | northampton.edu |
Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
NUC University (NUC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
Central Arizona College (CAC) |
Residency
|
2 | Coolidge, Arizona | Public | centralaz.edu |
College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
2 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
2 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
Seminole State College of Florida |
Other Award
|
1 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
1 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
1 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Associate's
|
1 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
Zane State College (ZSC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Zanesville, Ohio | Public | zanestate.edu |
Walnut Hill College (WHC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | walnuthillcollege.edu |
Westmoreland County Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | Youngwood, Pennsylvania | Public | westmoreland.edu |
Guam Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Mangilao, Guam | Public | guamcc.edu |
Florida Education Institute (FEI) |
Associate's
|
1 | Miami, Florida | Private | fei.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 Restaurant and Food Services Management programs
How much can I earn with a Restaurant and Food Services Management degree?
Salaries for Restaurant and Food Services Management graduates vary by role and location. Lodging Managers earn a median of $68,130 annually, while Food Service Managers earn around $65,310. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $94,470 compared to $49,930 in Arkansas. Approximately 285,580 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 Restaurant and Food Services Management programs?
Currently 46 accredited institutions offer Restaurant and Food Services Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Culinary Institute of America (CIA) (259 graduates), Central Texas College (CTC) (82 graduates), and Sinclair Community College (41 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 Restaurant and Food Services Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,118 in 2010 to a peak of 1,043 in 2020, before declining slightly to 730 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% 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 Restaurant and Food Services Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Lodging Managers, Food Service Managers, . Related occupations employ approximately 285,580 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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