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Hospitality & Tourism

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Hospitality and tourism majors study how hotels, restaurants, resorts, events, and travel services are run. Coursework covers hospitality operations, food and beverage management, event planning, tourism marketing, hospitality law, and revenue management, alongside core business classes.

Many programs require extensive internships at hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, or theme parks, and some campuses operate student-run hotels or restaurants. Culinary tracks add kitchen labs and food-science coursework.

What you'll do after college

Grads work at hotel chains, restaurant groups, cruise lines, casinos, event-planning companies, theme parks, and destination marketing organizations. Common early roles are management trainee, front-office manager, food and beverage supervisor, event coordinator, and revenue analyst.

The work is people-intensive, often includes nights, weekends, and peak-season hours, and rewards those who enjoy service and operations. Pay starts modest but rises into comfortable senior-management salaries at global hotel and restaurant brands.

Famous graduates

  • Guy Fieri — Restaurateur and TV host; B.S. in Hospitality Management from UNLV

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$48,001
1,463
100–85%
$52,737
3,399
85–72%
$53,473
3,427
72–42%
$59,066
1,430
42–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$48,118
1,158
400–1080
$51,806
2,804
1080–1210
$54,335
2,714
1210–1340
$65,890
1,182
1350–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$42,209p10 $60,296p90 Arts Work College Military Female-only Business Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $44,016 College of the Ozarks · $47,424 Everglades University · $56,873 Meredith College · $50,729 Bay Path University · $49,321 Northwood University · $53,511 Nichols College · $50,532 Flagler College · $42,230 Champlain College · $55,483 Lees-McRae College · $44,662 Endicott College · $48,738 Lipscomb University · $71,632 Ferrum College · $44,398 Mitchell College · $41,282 York College of Pennsylvania · $52,515 Davis & Elkins College · $50,117 Catawba College · $63,926 Houghton University · $41,284 Mars Hill University · $43,950 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $66,497 San Diego State University · $53,230 Alcorn State University · $45,265 University of South Florida · $49,813 Cal Poly - Pomona · $45,470 Clemson University · $48,984 Delaware State University · $48,653 Florida International University · $43,726 North Carolina Central University · $38,775 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $45,853 University of Central Florida · $48,369 Cal State Long Beach · $41,549 Auburn University · $56,729 Chicago State University · $45,686 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $61,017 Ohio State University · $59,028 Alabama State University · $43,825 Texas A&M University - College Station · $64,321 Florida Atlantic University · $49,042 Northern Illinois University · $59,638 University of West Florida · $40,882 Virginia Tech · $60,768 University of South Carolina · $54,919 Pennsylvania State University · $58,539 New Mexico State University · $44,585 CUNY Lehman College · $42,846 Central Connecticut State University · $49,088 Georgia State University · $53,557 Illinois State University · $48,428 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $60,652 State University of New York at Cortland · $56,655 Frostburg State University · $49,460 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $53,934 Appalachian State University · $47,253 Fresno State · $42,729 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $53,888 Ball State University · $47,281 Central Michigan University · $52,526 Eastern Michigan University · $49,612 Jacksonville State University · $49,490 Kean University · $53,945 Oklahoma State University · $60,181 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · $44,451 James Madison University · $65,323 Texas Tech University · $70,794 Texas State University · $47,571 Eastern Illinois University · $53,574 University of Alabama · $55,501 College of Charleston · $54,323 Cal State Sacramento · $54,834 East Carolina University · $53,216 George Mason University · $55,794 Georgia Southern University · $48,738 Indiana University - Kokomo · $45,477 Longwood University · $44,720 Marshall University · $60,770 Missouri State University - Springfield · $51,844 Montclair State University · $50,371 Northeastern State University · $52,235 Northwest Missouri State University · $64,933 Northwestern State University of Louisiana · $45,019 Ohio University · $62,434 Salem State University · $49,201 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $48,979 Temple University · $52,812 Troy University · $50,229 University of Delaware · $72,339 University of Memphis · $48,577 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $64,610 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $47,194 University of Northern Colorado · $55,828 University of Southern Maine · $46,674 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $46,917 Western Illinois University · $41,709 University of Pittsburgh - Bradford · $50,219 University of Vermont · $49,647 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse · $55,865 Cal State East Bay · $55,631 Henderson State University · $48,845 Oregon State University · $48,683 University of Arkansas · $73,928 University of Idaho · $41,124 University of Mississippi · $62,990 Washington State University · $55,875 University of Houston · $52,822 Indiana University · $52,199 Purdue University Northwest · $46,564 SUNY Brockport · $48,375 University of Missouri · $58,012 Winona State University · $44,833 Chico State · $53,151 Eastern Kentucky University · $41,369 Middle Tennessee State University · $46,595 University of Louisiana at Lafayette · $42,209 University of New Hampshire · $53,813 Youngstown State University · $48,246 Coastal Carolina University · $47,674 Southeast Missouri State University · $48,988 Western Carolina University · $44,569 Kennesaw State University · $49,631 University of West Georgia · $54,569 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $51,067 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $41,781 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $41,378 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $59,929 San Jose State University · $64,833 University of Central Oklahoma · $51,165 University of New Orleans · $49,714 University of North Texas · $54,816 Winston-Salem State University · $42,189 Bowling Green State University · $49,457 Cal Poly - Humboldt · $35,181 California State University, Monterey Bay · $49,116 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $51,936 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $47,880 Eastern Washington University · $48,903 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $52,380 Kent State University at Kent · $47,873 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · $53,881 Shepherd University · $51,505 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $42,394 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $52,309 University of Utah · $50,780 Southern Connecticut State University · $48,921 Stephen F. Austin State University · $49,128 Western Michigan University · $46,348 Michigan State University · $59,885 Framingham State University · $47,895 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $50,767 University of South Carolina, Beaufort · $50,276 Arkansas Tech University · $53,715 Central Washington University · $46,374 Colorado Mesa University · $49,450 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $44,963 Emporia State University · $51,054 Ferris State University · $53,420 Fort Hays State University · $54,784 Iowa State University · $56,854 Lamar University · $42,102 SUNY Buffalo State University · $43,038 Saint Cloud State University · $48,619 South Dakota State University · $54,120 Southern Oregon University · $33,823 Southern Utah University · $41,490 Stockton University · $49,218 University of Maine · $49,435 West Virginia University · $58,689 Western Colorado University · $30,827 Western Kentucky University · $47,542 Northern Michigan University · $40,252 Arizona State University · $52,934 Cal State Northridge · $45,947 Towson University · $54,136 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $33,219 Florida Gulf Coast University · $49,108 Northern Arizona University · $51,262 University of Kentucky · $60,312 University of Montana · $44,586 University of North Alabama · $44,278 University of North Texas at Dallas · $48,413 Southwest Minnesota State University · $51,766 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $56,981 Old Dominion University · $47,534 North Dakota State University · $56,346 Pennsylvania State University - Abington · $53,656 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $57,834 Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny · $52,301 Plymouth State University · $47,779 University of Southern Mississippi · $51,611 Grand Valley State University · $48,675 San Francisco State University · $47,660 University of Northern Iowa · $53,860 Western Washington University · $39,779 Pittsburg State University · $58,732 University of South Alabama · $60,296 Kansas State University · $59,725 University of Wyoming · $50,175 Virginia State University · $55,263 Montana State University · $52,110 Missouri Western State University · $44,238 Lake Superior State University · $48,092 Montana State University - Billings · $52,325 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $55,363 University of the District of Columbia · $50,120 Utah Valley University · $53,708 Union University · $41,340 Southeastern University · $42,580 Liberty University · $59,555 Livingstone College · $38,817 Belmont Abbey College · $42,551 Oklahoma Baptist University · $51,981 Charleston Southern University · $47,964 High Point University · $56,489 University of San Francisco · $64,761 Concordia University Ann Arbor · $49,668 Merrimack College · $52,926 Shaw University · $32,234 Hannibal-LaGrange University · $44,866 Sacred Heart University · $55,616 Simpson University · $49,697 University of St Francis · $38,789 Brigham Young University · $66,895 Concordia University Wisconsin · $51,891 Saint Leo University · $60,697 Baker University · $54,046 Niagara University · $53,223 St. Thomas Aquinas College · $51,260 Lindsey Wilson College · $40,315 Colorado Christian University · $48,542 Baldwin Wallace University · $50,679 Trinity Christian College · $49,413 Gordon College · $47,227 Carson-Newman University · $48,117 Chowan University · $43,585 Methodist University · $43,426 St. Joseph's University - New York · $53,318 Canisius University · $56,162 Mount Mercy University · $52,609 Mercyhurst University · $49,629 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $47,737 Saint Xavier University · $52,540 St. John's University - New York · $44,675 Wingate University · $50,258 Campbell University · $71,477 DePaul University · $50,717 Brigham Young University Hawaii · $46,953 Belmont University · $62,697 Dallas Baptist University · $51,935 Morris College · $37,974 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $43,149 Central Methodist University · $48,738 Webber International University · $35,762 Bradley University · $54,862 Rochester Institute of Technology · $40,320 Aurora University · $56,375 Delaware Valley University · $45,570 Lasell University · $51,205 Robert Morris University · $47,194 University of New Haven · $53,436 Wilkes University · $51,225 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science · $40,429 Springfield College · $56,988 Ithaca College · $51,612 Pace University · $63,325 Trine University · $53,545 Husson University · $51,533 Drexel University · $59,907 Lynn University · $45,916 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham · $53,917 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $53,917 Keystone College · $42,255 New England College · $45,006 University of Denver · $60,595 Culinary Institute of America · $42,491 Roosevelt University · $42,691 National-Louis University · $46,724 University of Florida · $52,599 University of Georgia · $54,774 Purdue University · $57,615 North Carolina State University · $52,146 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $65,707 Florida State University · $51,041 Cornell University · $94,040 New York University · $61,706 Boston University · $47,894 Arts: mean $44,016 Work College: mean $47,424 Military: mean $56,873 Female-only: mean $50,025 Business: mean $52,022 Liberal Arts: mean $50,018 Public University: mean $50,885 Religious University: mean $49,994 Private University: mean $49,872 Public University 1–15: mean $55,647 Private University 1–30: mean $67,880 All colleges: p10 $42,209 All colleges: p90 $60,296
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Hospitality & Tourism 327 9,842 38% / 62% 6% $51,645 95%
Hospitality Management 164 4,215 32% / 68% 8% $51,674 95%
Recreation Management 85 1,071 46% / 54% 3% $48,393 95%
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 26 496 48% / 52% 2% $50,984 96%
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management 19 394 54% / 46% 1% $49,184 95%
Food Service Management 5 323 37% / 63% 13% $42,446 93%
Hospitality and Tourism Management 8 244 20% / 80% 8% $54,272 95%
Hotel Administration 2 221 46% / 54% 13% $69,344 94%
Event Management 2 201 10% / 90% 6% $52,612 95%
Tourism and Travel Services Management 7 181 35% / 65% 12% $48,275 94%
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management 2 155 46% / 54% 1% $52,501 96%
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 2 132 64% / 36% 1% $55,452 100%
Meeting and Event Planning 11 116 9% / 91% 2% $50,885 94%
Recreation, Sport and Tourism 1 107 76% / 24% 7% $65,707 97%
Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration 1 106 30% / 70% 0% $66,497 100%
Parks, Recreation and Leisure 1 101 70% / 30% 2% $57,277 98%
Therapeutic Recreation 9 100 11% / 89% 1% $59,431 95%
Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences 1 99 33% / 67% 3% $56,022 100%
Recreation and Leisure Studies 4 96 52% / 48% 0% $46,123 94%
Recreation and Sport Management 1 95 80% / 20% 4% $39,799 92%
Recreation Administration 4 86 36% / 64% 0% $45,353 96%
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management 4 85 20% / 80% 1% $55,164 95%
Recreation and Park Administration 2 84 46% / 54% 0% $44,151 91%
Hospitality Administration/Management 4 80 29% / 71% 1% $56,536 95%
Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management 1 80 39% / 61% 4% $51,700 97%
Resort Management 2 79 66% / 34% 3% $48,391 93%
Recreation 3 63 67% / 33% 2% $55,506 94%
Hospitality Administration 17 57 33% / 67% 2% $50,594 94%
Hotel and Restaurant Management 3 52 25% / 75% 2% $47,668 95%
Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management 1 49 37% / 63% 2% $52,599 93%
Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management 1 45 62% / 38% 2% $50,229
Tourism Management 2 42 40% / 60% 7% $49,783 94%
Tourism Development and Management 1 38 32% / 68% 13% $50,983 94%
Recreation and Event Management 1 37 73% / 27% 0% $53,493 98%
Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management 2 36 42% / 58% 0% $54,607 98%
Recreation and Tourism Management 3 35 37% / 63% 0% $44,937 95%
Hotel and Resort Management 1 35 26% / 74% 3% $53,708 82%
Recreation, Tourism and Events 1 35 43% / 57% 0% $35,353 88%
Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management 1 35 40% / 60% 9% $70,794 92%
Leisure Studies 3 33 55% / 45% 3% $51,738 100%
Park Management and Tourism 1 32 88% / 12% 0% $53,767 100%
Restaurant/Food Services Management 2 30 43% / 57% 7% $51,816 95%
Customer Service Management 4 25 20% / 80% 0% $75,009 95%
Entertainment and Media Management 3 23 96% / 4% 0% $50,620 98%
Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership 1 22 27% / 73% 0% $53,860 95%
Recreation and Tourism 2 21 81% / 19% 0% $44,492
Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management 1 21 62% / 38% 0% $50,175
Parks, Recreation and Tourism 1 18 61% / 39% 0% $49,647
Recreation Marketing 1 15 73% / 27% 20% $60,672 100%
Lodging and Restaurant Management 1 13 23% / 77% 0% $48,369 93%
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Resources 1 12 17% / 83% 8% $49,005 100%
Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management 1 11 9% / 91% 0% $59,673
Restaurant and Foodservice Management 1 10 50% / 50% 0% $48,369 93%
Nutrition and Food Management 1 9 22% / 78% 11% $51,165
Food Business Management 1 8 75% / 25% 0% $62,876 92%
Hospitality, Recreation, and Resort Management 1 8 38% / 62% 0% $40,882 95%
Recreation and Leisure Services 2 5 40% / 60% 0% $46,290 96%
Outdoor Leadership 1 4 75% / 25% 0% $48,542
Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager 2 3 67% / 33% 0% $45,570
Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations 2 3 0% / 100% 67% $48,128 100%
Foodservice Systems Administration/Management 2 2 0% / 100% 0% $47,485 90%
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $53,656
Travel and Tourism 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $49,141
Hospitality Marketing 3 1 0% / 100% 0% $47,376 93%
Tourism Promotion Operations 2 1 100% / 0% 0% $47,532
Event Planning 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $49,629 93%
Hospitality Management (Food Service) 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $61,871 92%