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. The highest-paying schools turn a hospitality management degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 53 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.
Leading the list is James Madison University, our #1 for hospitality management graduate salaries in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,319.
Campbell University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in hospitality management, landing the #2 spot this year. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. Hospitality Management graduates of Campbell University earn a median of about $67,985 a year early in their careers.
Jefferson State Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in hospitality management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,433.
Strong graduate earnings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned it the #4 place for hospitality management. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $60,111 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at George Mason University earned it the #5 place for hospitality management. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Early-career hospitality management graduates from George Mason University make a median of around $57,639 per year.
Auburn University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Auburn University make a median of around $53,091 per year.
College Of Charleston came in at #7 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. College Of Charleston is a public school located in the city of Charleston. Early-career hospitality management graduates from College Of Charleston make a median of around $53,871 per year.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public school located in the town of University. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,488.
Daytona State College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,781.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #10 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. The University Of Tennessee is a public school located in the city of Knoxville. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee typically earn about $56,614 annually.
American Public University System earned the #11 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,116.
Sullivan University landed the #12 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,564.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #13 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of about $53,494 a year early in their careers.
Florida Gulf Coast University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,667.
Florida State University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Florida State University make a median of around $53,037 per year.
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #16 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia typically earn about $53,539 annually.
Gwinnett Technical College earned the #17 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Gwinnett Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Hospitality Management graduates of Gwinnett Technical College earn a median of about $33,622 a year early in their careers.
Appalachian State University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Appalachian State University typically earn about $57,957 annually.
East Carolina University earned the #19 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of about $51,148 a year early in their careers.
Valencia College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Valencia College typically earn about $34,878 annually.
Saint Leo University came in at #21 for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Saint Leo University make a median of around $62,181 per year.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #22 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,031.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College landed the #23 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. Set in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,612.
Georgia State University landed the #24 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Georgia State University typically earn about $52,982 annually.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort earned the #25 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a public institution. Hospitality Management graduates of University Of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of about $48,986 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send hospitality management graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 53 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.