by our College Data Analytics Team
[Hospitality Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying hospitality management schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose hospitality management graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of San Francisco tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools in California. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Hospitality Management graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of about $74,026 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at San Jose State University earned it the #2 place for hospitality management. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Early-career hospitality management graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $67,022 per year.
A rank of #3 makes San Diego State University one of the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of about $58,612 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in hospitality management will find them at California State University East Bay, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $62,071 annually.
San Francisco State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in hospitality management, landing the #5 spot this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $56,485 annually.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $49,890 annually.
California State University Long Beach earned the #7 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,668.
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Seaside. Early-career hospitality management graduates from California State University Monterey Bay make a median of around $35,760 per year.
California State University Northridge earned the #9 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from California State University Northridge make a median of around $51,354 per year.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Mt San Antonio College is a public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,180.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their hospitality management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 10 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
