2026 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in the Southwest Region
[Hospitality Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools to find the best return on investment for hospitality management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the hospitality management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Hospitality Management Schools
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for hospitality management in the Southwest Region. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $10,655. Hospitality Management graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Arizona College earned it the #2 place for hospitality management. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,250, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $48,826. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in hospitality management, landing the #3 spot this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in hospitality management will find it at St Philips College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Tarrant County College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value hospitality management schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $15,148. Hospitality Management graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Central Texas College earned the #6 position for value in hospitality management this year. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Students borrow a median of $11,290 to complete the hospitality management program here. Hospitality Management graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College came in at #7 for value in hospitality management this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $19,223. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $40,365. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for hospitality management value this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $21,085 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $29,942 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Tulsa Technology Center came in at #9 for value in hospitality management this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the hospitality management program here. Hospitality Management graduates of Tulsa Technology Center earn a median of $32,406 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Arizona State University earned the #10 position for value in hospitality management this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $17,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $34,499. Set against $17,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Houston earned the #11 position for value in hospitality management this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $21,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $42,535. That is a strong return on a $21,423 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of North Texas landed the #12 spot for hospitality management value this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $23,070. Hospitality Management graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $41,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Scottsdale Community College placed #13 among the best values for hospitality management. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $13,084. Hospitality Management graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Arizona University came in at #14 for value in hospitality management this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,488 to complete the hospitality management program here. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $36,155. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in hospitality management this year. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $21,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $35,878. Set against $21,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value hospitality management schools. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Stephen F Austin State University generally make around $30,758. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Texas Tech University earned the #17 position for value in hospitality management this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $41,506. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #18 spot for hospitality management value this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the hospitality management program here. Hospitality Management graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $37,743 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University came in at #19 for value in hospitality management this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $25,000. Hospitality Management graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $34,370 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
