by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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]. Continue reading for the essential details every resort management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering resort management programs.
Nationwide, resort management is a popular field of study, with 130 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Resort Management Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for resort management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of resort management programs later in this article.
Programs in Resort Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations resort management graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a resort management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a resort management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several resort 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 | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 13 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 103 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to resort management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in resort management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in resort management can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to resort management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to resort management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging Managers | 219,858 | 14.8% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of resort management 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 resort management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers resort management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Lodging Managers | $95,461 |
With 14 different resort management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased resort management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in resort management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
