by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 90 U.S. colleges awarded 1,756 degrees and certificates in Hotel/Motel Administration/Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best Hotel/Motel Administration/Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,814 one year after completing, rising to $56,062 after four years.
Studying Hotel/Motel Administration/Management explores Hotel/motel Administration/management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Operations And Facilities That Provide Lodging Services To The Traveling Public. Includes Instruction In Hospitality Industry Principles; Supplies Purchasing, Storage And Control; Hotel Facilities Design And Planning; Hospitality Industry Law; Personnel Management And Labor Relations; Financial Management; Marketing And Sales Promotion; Convention And Event Management; Front Desk Operations; And Applications To Specific Types Of Hotels And Motel Operations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, hotel/motel administration/management is a widely-pursued major, with 1,756 degrees awarded annually. 90 colleges award hotel/motel administration/management degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 287.
By level, the 1,756 awards include 128 certificates, 283 associate degrees, 818 bachelor’s degrees, 524 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of hotel/motel administration/management degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,202 of 1,756). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (679) and Hispanic or Latino (382), and international students earned 210.
College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best Hotel/Motel Administration/Management Schools ranking, including 15 for associate degrees, 14 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks hotel/motel administration/management schools within 10 states. In all, 90 colleges offer hotel/motel administration/management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Hotel/Motel Administration/Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common hotel/motel administration/management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 818 of the 1,756 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to hotel/motel administration/management call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a hotel/motel administration/management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 128 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 283 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 818 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 524 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to hotel/motel administration/management, at 47.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.2% |
| Some college courses | 7.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Hotel/Motel Administration/Management, with an average median salary of $111,838; the strongest outlook belongs to Lodging Managers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Personnel Security Specialist, Industrial Security Specialist, Security Specialist and Security System Engineer.
The occupation related to hotel/motel administration/management with the most projected jobs is Security Management Specialists, at 765,822.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 615,875 | -1.7% |
| Sustainability Specialists | 564,227 | 14.3% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management graduates earn a median $35,814 one year after completing their program, $56,062 after four years and $48,473 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,814 |
| 4 years | $56,062 |
| 5 years | $48,473 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to hotel/motel administration/management is Food Service Managers, with a median salary of $165,782.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Security Management Specialists | $128,654 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $113,637 |
| Online Merchants | $106,971 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Lodging Managers | $95,461 |
| Sustainability Specialists | $81,004 |
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management has 9 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 11,444 degrees a year; the largest are Hospitality Administration/Management, General (7,782), Tourism and Travel Services Management (863) and Meeting and Event Planning (805). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
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