by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 52 U.S. colleges awarded 446 degrees and certificates in Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant 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, and Restaurant Management explores Hotel, Motel, And Restaurant Management. An Instructional Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Operations And Facilities That Provide Food And/or Lodging Services To The Traveling Public. Includes Instruction In Hospitality Industry Principles; Supplies Purchasing, Storage, And Control; Hotel And Restaurant Facilities Design And Planning; Hospitality Industry Law; Personnel Management And Labor Relations; Financial Management; Facilities Management; Marketing And Sale Promotion Strategies; Convention And Event Management; Front Desk Operations; And Applications To Specific Types Of Hotel, Motel, And/or Restaurant Operations. Note: This Program Was Re-Instated After Being Deleted From Cip 2000; Previously, It Was Coded As 52.0902.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, hotel, motel, and restaurant management draws strong interest, with 446 degrees awarded annually. 52 colleges award hotel, motel, and restaurant management degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 39.
By level, the 446 awards include 33 certificates, 83 associate degrees, 65 bachelor’s degrees and 228 master’s degrees.
Women earned 70% of hotel, motel, and restaurant management degrees and certificates in the latest year (312 of 446). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (190) and Black or African American (108), and international students earned 24.
College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees and 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks hotel, motel, and restaurant management schools within 2 states. In all, 52 colleges offer hotel, motel, and restaurant management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common hotel, motel, and restaurant management credential is the master’s degree: 228 of the 446 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to hotel, motel, and restaurant management call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a hotel, motel, and restaurant management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 33 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 83 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 65 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 228 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to hotel, motel, and restaurant management, at 25.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 15.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 13.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.3% |
| Master’s degree | 4.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management, with an average median salary of $113,940; the strongest outlook belongs to Lodging Managers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Hospitality Manager, Dietary Manager, Catering Coordinator and Front of House Manager (FOH Manager).
The occupation related to hotel, motel, and restaurant management with the most projected jobs is Food Service Managers, at 397,799.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
| Lodging Managers | 219,858 | 14.8% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to hotel, motel, and restaurant management, with a median salary of $165,782.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Lodging Managers | $95,461 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management has 9 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 12,754 degrees a year; the largest are Hospitality Administration/Management, General (7,782), Hotel/Motel Administration/Management (1,756) and Tourism and Travel Services Management (863). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Hospitality Administration/Management, General | 7,782 |
| Hotel/Motel Administration/Management | 1,756 |
| Tourism and Travel Services Management | 863 |
| Meeting and Event Planning | 805 |
| Restaurant/Food Services Management | 784 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management, Other | 581 |
| Resort Management | 163 |
| Casino Management | 16 |
| Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management | 4 |
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