by our College Data Analytics TeamThink of the most enjoyable experience you've ever had when staying at a hotel or eating at a restaurant. What made that specific time the best? Was it the great customer service, or the friendly environment? There are many factors that contribute to a hospitable experience. If this is something that greatly interests you, consider majoring in Hospitality Management.
A program in Hospitality Management prepares student to manage others and act as general managers and directors of hospitality operations on a system-wide basis. Students will acquire the knowledge to oversee business in both travel arrangements and promotion, and the condition of traveler facilities.
There are a few different concentrations within this major; they include Hotel/Motel Administration/Management, Tourism and Travel Service Management, Resort Management, Casino Management, Meeting and Event Planning, and Restaurant Management. While concentrating on this major, you will be taking courses in employee labor relations, hospitality finance, marketing, resort operations, hospitality law, and festival and event management. This major is typically offered at the associate's and bachelor's level.
Studying Hospitality Management involves the study of Hospitality Administration/management. Continue reading for the essential details every hospitality management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering hospitality management programs.
Across the country, hospitality management is a popular field of study, with 13,333 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Hospitality Management Schools ranking analyzes these 499 schools to determine the best overall colleges for hospitality management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of hospitality management programs later in this article.
Programs in Hospitality Management develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations hospitality management graduates commonly enter.
People skills are essential to success in this major. You will be working with people constantly and must be gracious and courteous when meeting requests and responding to complaints. A career in hospitality is bound to keep you on your toes with new problems and issues popping up every day. Creativity and the ability to make quick decisions will be necessary in solving these problems.
It may be helpful to learn a foreign language, as you may have interactions with international travelers. Gaining experience through internship or extra training is encouraged in order to determine which industry you'd like to enter into.
The skill set built by a hospitality management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a hospitality management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several hospitality management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 679 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,657 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,448 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,229 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 53 |
People currently working in careers related to hospitality management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.1% |
| Master’s degree | 9.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.0% |
| Some college courses | 7.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in hospitality management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
With a degree in Hospitality Management, graduates have the opportunity to enter into a variety of occupations. If you are interested in becoming a General Manager, you must first determine which industry you would like to enter into, whether it is travel, hotel, restaurant, etc. There is not a high demand for these managers, and individuals may arrive at these positions by climbing the ladder.
Graduates can also pursue a career as an Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Manager. These managers develop, sell, and promote their client's products and services.
Majoring in hospitality management opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to hospitality management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to hospitality management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 615,875 | -1.7% |
| Sustainability Specialists | 564,227 | 14.3% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | 403,205 | 4.2% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of hospitality management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,616 |
| 4 years | $42,558 |
| 5 years | $47,733 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for hospitality management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers hospitality management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Spa Managers | $143,396 |
| Gambling Managers | $140,375 |
With 499 different hospitality management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased hospitality management school rankings to help you.
Students interested in hospitality management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 402,942 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 81,835 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 62,236 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 57,976 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 57,564 |
| Marketing | 53,750 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 25,424 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 16,153 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 14,306 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,092 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
