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 schools below stand out for the salaries their hospitality management graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find where hospitality management graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose hospitality management graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Southwest Minnesota State University the top school for hospitality management graduate earnings in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University make a median of around $50,720 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Kansas State University one of the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Students who complete the hospitality management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,360.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln produces some of the highest-paid graduates in hospitality management, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Hospitality Management graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $54,410 a year early in their careers.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus typically earn about $50,675 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in hospitality management will find them at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $52,578 per year.
Iowa State University landed the #6 spot for hospitality management salaries this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Iowa State University typically earn about $52,830 annually.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $48,742 annually.
South Dakota State University earned the #8 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. South Dakota State University is a public school located in the town of Brookings. Hospitality Management graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $52,337 a year early in their careers.
Saint Cloud State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for hospitality management. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University typically earn about $39,176 annually.
Southeast Missouri State University earned the #10 position for hospitality management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Early-career hospitality management graduates from Southeast Missouri State University make a median of around $45,208 per year.
Fort Hays State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying hospitality management schools. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. After graduating, hospitality management degree recipients from Fort Hays State University typically earn about $34,004 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.
