by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Hospitality Administration/Management involves the study of Hospitality Administration/management, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Serve As General Managers And Directors Of Hospitality Operations On A System-Wide Basis, Including Both Travel Arrangements And Promotion And The Provision Of Traveler Facilities. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Operations In The Travel And Tourism, Hotel And Lodging Facilities, Food Services, And Recreation Facilities Industries; Hospitality Marketing Strategies; Hospitality Planning; Management And Coordination Of Franchise And Unit Operations; Business Management; Accounting And Financial Management; Hospitality Transportation And Logistics; And Hospitality Industry Policies And Regulations. Continue reading for the key facts every general hospitality administration/management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general hospitality administration/management programs.
Nationwide, general hospitality administration/management draws strong interest, with 8,041 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Hospitality Administration/Management Schools ranking analyzes these 366 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general hospitality administration/management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general hospitality administration/management programs later in this article.
Programs in General Hospitality Administration/Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general hospitality administration/management graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a general hospitality administration/management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general hospitality administration/management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general hospitality administration/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 | 207 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 954 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,030 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,590 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 43 |
People currently working in careers related to general hospitality administration/management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.1% |
| Master’s degree | 16.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.4% |
| Some college courses | 6.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general hospitality administration/management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general hospitality administration/management opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general hospitality administration/management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general hospitality administration/management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | 403,205 | 4.2% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | 320,819 | 2.9% |
| Lodging Managers | 219,858 | 14.8% |
| Spa Managers | 184,703 | -2.2% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general hospitality administration/management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 general hospitality administration/management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general hospitality administration/management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Spa Managers | $143,396 |
| Lodging Managers | $95,461 |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | $66,320 |
With 366 different general hospitality administration/management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general hospitality administration/management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general hospitality administration/management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Hotel/Motel Administration/Management | 1,734 |
| Tourism and Travel Services Management | 921 |
| Meeting and Event Planning | 730 |
| Restaurant/Food Services Management | 730 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management, Other | 584 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management | 432 |
| Resort Management | 130 |
| Casino Management | 23 |
| Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
