Hospitality Administration/Management: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 145 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$143,662 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
23.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
−57%Modeled 10-year ROI
$55,790Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$55,790Median reported earnings · year 4
$51,860Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,995Median federal debt
36thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
145Reporting programs
141With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,976
- Federal debt
- $17,715
- Reporting programs
- 16
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,788
- Federal debt
- $17,450
- Reporting programs
- 36
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,790
- Federal debt
- $23,995
- Reporting programs
- 145
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,799
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 12
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,606
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$49,834National median$55,79075th percentile$61,413
141 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Cornell University$112,2892New York University$84,3753Boston University$82,3024University of San Francisco$77,7575George Washington University$75,6836University of Denver$75,1187Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$72,8178DePaul University$71,5569Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus$71,18810Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus$71,188Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Food Service ManagersSOC 11-9051 · 6 crosswalk linksLodging ManagersSOC 11-9081 · 6 crosswalk linksEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingSOC 11-9072 · 2 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 2 crosswalk linksPersonal Service Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9179 · 2 crosswalk linksBusiness Operations Specialists, All OtherSOC 13-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksBusiness Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksFacilities ManagersSOC 11-3013 · 1 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersSOC 39-1013 · 1 crosswalk linksGambling ManagersSOC 11-9071 · 1 crosswalk linksMeeting, Convention, and Event PlannersSOC 13-1121 · 1 crosswalk linksTravel GuidesSOC 39-7012 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $112,289 | $13,987 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $84,375 | $19,000 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $82,302 | $26,000 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $77,757 | $19,500 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $75,683 | $22,500 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $75,118 | $21,923 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $72,817 | $25,680 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $71,556 | $16,375 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusBachelor's Degree | Teaneck, NJ | $71,188 | $25,000 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusBachelor's Degree | Madison, NJ | $71,188 | $25,000 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $71,102 | $22,850 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $70,916 | $24,385 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $70,113 | $17,749 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $69,651 | $22,625 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Lasell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newton, MA | $68,693 | $27,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $68,473 | $26,000 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $66,874 | $25,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $66,046 | $27,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies OnlineBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $66,046 | $27,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $65,655 | $19,470 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $65,510 | $14,400 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $65,016 | $22,250 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | York College of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | York, PA | $64,754 | $26,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $64,526 | $25,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $64,315 | $15,891 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | College of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $64,154 | $23,448 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyBachelor's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $63,798 | $24,500 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $63,798 | $24,500 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $63,798 | $24,500 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $63,419 | $24,500 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Campbell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buies Creek, NC | $63,402 | $19,750 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $62,727 | $24,722 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $62,673 | $18,864 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $62,556 | $20,500 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $61,441 | $23,250 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | National Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $61,413 | $28,491 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Endicott CollegeBachelor's Degree | Beverly, MA | $60,969 | $23,250 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $60,347 | $26,417 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $60,157 | $20,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $60,041 | $21,812 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $60,011 | $21,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | New York Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $59,490 | $21,750 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $59,089 | $20,750 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | East Stroudsburg, PA | $58,882 | $26,905 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $58,861 | $19,432 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $58,857 | $20,046 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $58,854 | $22,500 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $58,719 | $19,003 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Northern Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dekalb, IL | $58,546 | $25,001 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $58,413 | $26,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $58,282 | $25,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Culinary Institute of AmericaBachelor's Degree | Hyde Park, NY | $58,165 | $26,778 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $57,927 | $17,125 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $57,695 | $23,656 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Roosevelt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $57,617 | $23,916 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $57,312 | $20,500 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $57,255 | $23,070 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $57,221 | $22,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $57,114 | $15,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $56,688 | $26,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Florida International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $56,667 | $19,300 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Virginia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Petersburg, VA | $56,476 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $56,451 | $25,225 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Widener UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chester, PA | $56,345 | $23,250 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $56,314 | $29,000 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $56,252 | $23,250 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Kent State University at AshtabulaBachelor's Degree | Ashtabula, OH | $56,143 | $25,112 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $56,143 | $25,112 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | California State University, Monterey BayBachelor's Degree | Seaside, CA | $55,856 | $11,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $55,821 | $22,767 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $55,790 | $26,175 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $55,790 | $26,175 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $55,790 | $26,175 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | East Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, NC | $55,541 | $26,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $55,491 | $20,998 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $54,921 | $20,500 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $54,635 | $23,032 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $54,251 | $19,500 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Mercyhurst UniversityBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $53,812 | $26,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $53,796 | $20,197 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $53,789 | $26,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $53,784 | $24,947 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $53,777 | $22,250 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Indiana University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Indiana, PA | $53,551 | $27,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cape Girardeau, MO | $53,527 | $18,750 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $53,392 | $27,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $53,344 | $21,423 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $53,180 | $25,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | State University of New York at PlattsburghBachelor's Degree | Plattsburgh, NY | $53,178 | $21,500 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $53,039 | $26,000 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | University of Maryland Eastern ShoreBachelor's Degree | Princess Anne, MD | $52,883 | $26,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | University of MemphisBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $52,627 | $29,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $52,477 | $21,610 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Central Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Britain, CT | $52,238 | $22,225 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $51,874 | $22,500 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Husson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bangor, ME | $51,833 | $26,963 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $51,363 | $26,689 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $51,277 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Coastal Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Conway, SC | $50,864 | $25,000 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Western Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, KY | $50,712 | $24,883 | -74% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.