by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 11 U.S. colleges awarded 163 degrees and certificates in Resort Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 81% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Resort 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 Resort Management covers Resort Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Manage, And Market Comprehensive Vacation Facilities And Services And Related Products. Includes Instruction In Hospitality Administration, Hotel/motel Management, Restaurant And Food Services Management, Facilities Planning, Leisure Studies, Recreation Administration, Marketing, Recreation Equipment And Grounds Operations And Maintenance, Business Finance, Insurance And Taxation, Event Management And Guest Services, Personnel Management, Travel And Logistics Management, Safety And Health Services, Professional Standards And Ethics, And Applications To Specific Vacation Types And Locations. Examples: [Spa Management], [Resort And Attraction Management].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, resort management is a popular field of study, with 163 degrees awarded annually. 11 colleges award resort management degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 47.
By level, the 163 awards include 9 certificates, 4 associate degrees, 132 bachelor’s degrees and 18 master’s degrees.
Women earned 35% of resort management degrees and certificates in the latest year (57 of 163). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (134) and Hispanic or Latino (11), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Resort Management Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks resort management schools within 3 states. In all, 11 colleges offer resort management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Resort Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common resort management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 132 of the 163 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to resort management call most for Active Listening, Service Orientation and Speaking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Recognition.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a resort management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 132 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to resort management, at 63.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 63.5% |
| Some college courses | 13.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 10.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.7% |
| Master’s degree | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Resort Management, with an average median salary of $132,816; the strongest outlook belongs to Lodging Managers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Camp Director, Motel Manager, Front Office Director and Resident Manager.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to resort management, at 219,858.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging Managers | 219,858 | 14.8% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
Resort 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 highest-paying occupation related to resort management is Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, with a median salary of $170,172.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Lodging Managers | $95,461 |
Resort Management has 9 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 13,037 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
