by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Meeting and Event Planning explores Meeting And Event Planning. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Budget, And Implement Conferences, Meetings, And Other Special Events In The Public Or Private Sectors. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Meeting And Event Planning; Special Event Management; Budgets And Finance; Site Selection; Contracts, Vendors, And Negotiations; Marketing And Promotions; Food And Beverage Management; Audio-Visual Basics And Meeting Technology; And Hospitality Law. Examples: [Conference Management], [Conference Planning], [Wedding Planning]. Continue reading for the important information every meeting and event planning student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering meeting and event planning programs.
In the U.S., meeting and event planning is a popular field of study, with 730 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Meeting and Event Planning Schools ranking analyzes these 53 schools to determine the best overall colleges for meeting and event planning students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of meeting and event planning programs later in this article.
Coursework for Meeting and Event Planning emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations meeting and event planning graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a meeting and event planning program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a meeting and event planning major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several meeting and event planning 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 | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 27 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 366 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 306 |
People currently working in careers related to meeting and event planning tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.8% |
| Some college courses | 37.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in meeting and event planning careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying meeting and event planning can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to meeting and event planning.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to meeting and event planning.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | 371,665 | -0.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of meeting and event planning graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 meeting and event planning graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers meeting and event planning grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $64,460 |
With 53 different meeting and event planning programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased meeting and event planning school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in meeting and event planning, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
