by our College Data Analytics Team
[Hospitality Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the early-career earnings of their hospitality management graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send hospitality management graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Northwood University Michigan tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Midland, Northwood University Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Northwood University Michigan make a median of around $53,997 per year.
Michigan State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in hospitality management, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $61,842 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of about $53,914 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in hospitality management, landing the #4 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $55,565 annually.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school located in the town of Carbondale. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale typically earn about $46,602 annually.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #6 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,902.
Owens Community College came in at #7 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Owens Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Owens Community College typically earn about $37,172 annually.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Fox Valley Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Fox Valley Technical College make a median of around $37,032 per year.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $56,411 a year early in their careers.
National Louis University earned the #10 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. National Louis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from National Louis University typically earn about $47,010 annually.
Central Michigan University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,003.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #12 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College typically earn about $34,296 annually.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #13 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis make a median of around $48,392 per year.
Purdue University Northwest earned the #14 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Purdue University Northwest is a public school located in the suburb of Hammond. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest typically earn about $45,525 annually.
Depaul University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Hospitality Management graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $51,401 a year early in their careers.
Grand Valley State University came in at #16 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Grand Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Allendale. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,255.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #17 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of about $47,292 a year early in their careers.
Roosevelt University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,865.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Ivy Tech Community College make a median of around $31,241 per year.
Sinclair Community College came in at #20 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,498.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Eastern Michigan University is a public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $50,411 annually.
Kent State University At Kent placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent typically earn about $45,417 annually.
Youngstown State University landed the #23 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. Youngstown State University is a public school located in the city of Youngstown. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Youngstown State University typically earn about $45,003 annually.
Ferris State University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Ferris State University is a public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Ferris State University make a median of around $35,667 per year.
Northern Illinois University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $32,337 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send hospitality management graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries hospitality management graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 28 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.