Back

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

$48,605
1,031
100–88%
$51,605
2,065
88–81%
$52,407
2,086
81–72%
$52,537
2,072
72–48%
$49,634
2,030
48–37%
$68,083
1,059
35–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$46,965
826
400–1050
$50,741
1,439
1050–1130
$49,717
1,742
1130–1180
$52,910
1,678
1180–1270
$52,649
1,509
1270–1360
$72,339
819
1360–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$41,623p10 $57,996p90 Arts Work College Military Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Private University 1–20 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $45,188 College of the Ozarks · $44,071 Everglades University · $55,801 Meredith College · $49,998 Bay Path University · $49,665 William Jewell College · $50,307 Catawba College · $53,088 Lees-McRae College · $43,992 Belhaven University · $46,062 Maryville College · $48,261 Ferrum College · $44,530 Davis & Elkins College · $51,595 Mitchell College · $42,650 York College of Pennsylvania · $49,592 Houghton University · $42,530 Mars Hill University · $43,822 Cal State Long Beach · $46,998 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $73,677 University of South Florida · $51,031 San Diego State University · $59,371 Alcorn State University · $40,481 Cal Poly - Pomona · $49,890 Clemson University · $47,171 Florida International University · $48,859 Morgan State University · $42,479 North Carolina Central University · $37,824 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $44,415 Chicago State University · $45,494 Alabama State University · $40,427 San Jose State University · $70,264 Florida Atlantic University · $53,494 Northern Illinois University · $57,375 University of West Florida · $41,233 Pennsylvania State University · $56,122 University of South Carolina · $53,539 New Mexico State University · $40,174 CUNY Lehman College · $46,220 Central Connecticut State University · $50,649 Georgia State University · $52,982 Central State University · $41,995 Illinois State University · $47,002 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $62,949 State University of New York at Cortland · $55,769 Frostburg State University · $51,438 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $51,659 Appalachian State University · $41,684 Fresno State · $45,967 University of Houston · $51,879 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $49,256 Ball State University · $44,357 Central Michigan University · $53,003 Eastern Michigan University · $50,411 Jacksonville State University · $45,389 Kean University · $59,761 Oklahoma State University · $54,254 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · $41,017 Texas Tech University · $67,259 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $51,804 Texas State University · $46,540 University of West Georgia · $53,752 Northern Michigan University · $39,640 University of South Alabama · $48,249 Cal State Sacramento · $60,227 East Carolina University · $50,024 Eastern Illinois University · $49,314 George Mason University · $57,996 Georgia Southern University · $47,279 Indiana University - Kokomo · $42,149 Longwood University · $43,047 Marshall University · $54,208 Missouri State University - Springfield · $48,050 Montclair State University · $54,161 Northwest Missouri State University · $61,464 Northwestern State University of Louisiana · $41,200 Ohio University · $58,468 Salem State University · $51,096 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $46,417 Temple University · $53,432 Troy University · $47,111 University of Delaware · $72,901 University of Memphis · $44,977 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $58,149 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $44,171 University of Northern Colorado · $56,189 University of Northern Iowa · $48,941 University of Southern Maine · $46,793 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $44,754 Western Illinois University · $41,189 College of Charleston · $53,871 University of Vermont · $49,424 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse · $53,223 Cal State East Bay · $64,216 Henderson State University · $42,495 Old Dominion University · $47,451 Oregon State University · $51,229 University of Alabama · $52,250 University of Arkansas · $65,926 University of Idaho · $40,440 University of Mississippi · $56,277 Washington State University · $55,920 Indiana University · $50,444 Purdue University Northwest · $45,525 SUNY Brockport · $49,357 University of Missouri · $54,724 Winona State University · $43,251 Chico State · $56,924 Eastern Kentucky University · $38,891 Middle Tennessee State University · $44,466 Northern Arizona University · $52,206 University of Louisiana at Lafayette · $37,855 University of New Hampshire · $57,055 Youngstown State University · $45,003 Coastal Carolina University · $46,742 Southeast Missouri State University · $44,250 Western Carolina University · $43,406 Grand Valley State University · $49,255 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $52,575 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $41,281 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $39,643 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $54,410 Western Washington University · $42,232 University of Central Oklahoma · $49,665 University of New Orleans · $45,812 University of North Texas · $55,228 Winston-Salem State University · $39,811 Bowling Green State University · $46,968 Cal Poly - Humboldt · $39,755 California State University, Monterey Bay · $54,739 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $52,684 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $49,530 Eastern Washington University · $52,702 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $50,706 Kennesaw State University · $48,958 Kent State University at Kent · $45,483 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · $53,562 Shepherd University · $50,742 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $42,313 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $51,581 University of Utah · $50,353 Michigan State University · $60,160 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $47,292 Southern Connecticut State University · $51,418 Stephen F. Austin State University · $47,799 University of Iowa · $51,944 Western Michigan University · $46,590 Framingham State University · $51,301 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $48,176 University of South Carolina, Beaufort · $48,986 Arkansas Tech University · $45,702 Central Washington University · $51,405 Colorado Mesa University · $48,297 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $44,161 Emporia State University · $45,949 Ferris State University · $50,563 Fort Hays State University · $49,306 Indiana State University · $50,136 Iowa State University · $52,830 Lamar University · $39,910 SUNY Buffalo State University · $43,844 Saint Cloud State University · $48,867 South Dakota State University · $50,099 Southern Oregon University · $35,412 Southern Utah University · $40,180 Stockton University · $52,061 University of Maine · $47,661 West Virginia University · $57,209 Western Colorado University · $31,184 Western Kentucky University · $43,132 James Madison University · $65,319 Arizona State University · $53,576 Cal State Northridge · $51,354 Towson University · $54,257 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $35,896 Florida Gulf Coast University · $50,667 University of Kentucky · $55,454 University of Montana · $42,805 University of North Alabama · $44,096 University of North Texas at Dallas · $47,271 Southwest Minnesota State University · $50,720 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $53,914 North Dakota State University · $50,675 Pennsylvania State University - Abington · $53,254 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $56,884 Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny · $50,964 Plymouth State University · $50,453 University of Southern Mississippi · $45,065 San Francisco State University · $53,978 Pennsylvania Western University · $43,712 Pittsburg State University · $51,601 Kansas State University · $52,303 Midwestern State University · $47,288 University of Wyoming · $48,903 Virginia State University · $55,346 Sam Houston State University · $50,138 Montana State University · $50,642 Lake Superior State University · $47,867 Missouri Western State University · $41,623 Montana State University - Billings · $48,110 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $49,918 University of the District of Columbia · $52,845 Utah Valley University · $57,138 Brigham Young University · $65,672 Union University · $42,217 Southeastern University · $42,228 Liberty University · $53,130 Livingstone College · $36,224 Belmont Abbey College · $42,046 Madonna University · $49,875 Oklahoma Baptist University · $48,752 Newberry College · $39,246 California Lutheran University · $56,979 High Point University · $53,233 Hannibal-LaGrange University · $42,129 Shaw University · $31,390 Sacred Heart University · $60,915 Simpson University · $51,802 Ashland University · $49,693 Siena Heights University · $48,521 University of St Francis · $38,999 Concordia University Wisconsin · $51,298 Saint Leo University · $62,181 University of San Francisco · $74,026 Baker University · $49,255 Niagara University · $54,265 St. Thomas Aquinas College · $53,513 Lindsey Wilson College · $36,687 Colorado Christian University · $48,353 Baldwin Wallace University · $47,624 Trinity Christian College · $48,705 Gordon College · $50,449 Carson-Newman University · $44,620 Chowan University · $41,910 Methodist University · $41,349 Lakeland University · $49,428 St. Joseph's University - New York · $57,717 Canisius University · $57,161 Mount Mercy University · $49,520 Mercyhurst University · $48,698 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $45,454 Saint Xavier University · $53,445 St. John's University - New York · $48,636 Wingate University · $48,466 Campbell University · $67,985 Brigham Young University Hawaii · $49,274 DePaul University · $51,758 Belmont University · $52,231 Dallas Baptist University · $51,233 Morris College · $36,777 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $42,423 Central Methodist University · $45,250 Rochester Institute of Technology · $41,308 Webber International University · $39,276 Flagler College · $42,966 Champlain College · $54,914 Endicott College · $52,116 Indiana Institute of Technology · $46,192 Merrimack College · $57,022 Bradley University · $55,071 Aurora University · $57,084 Delaware Valley University · $45,602 Lasell University · $54,754 Robert Morris University · $46,770 University of New Haven · $54,878 Wilkes University · $52,891 Lipscomb University · $54,452 Lindenwood University · $48,495 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science · $42,022 Springfield College · $53,793 Ithaca College · $52,397 Pace University · $68,939 Trine University · $49,588 New York Institute of Technology · $58,300 Husson University · $50,796 Drexel University · $60,606 Lynn University · $47,817 Northwood University · $53,997 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham · $59,730 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $59,730 Keystone College · $42,318 New England College · $45,361 Nichols College · $53,025 University of Denver · $62,364 Culinary Institute of America · $45,707 Roosevelt University · $43,045 Cleary University · $54,472 National-Louis University · $47,010 University of Florida · $52,792 University of Georgia · $53,174 Purdue University · $55,565 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $63,748 Texas A&M University - College Station · $53,584 Florida State University · $50,363 Auburn University · $53,091 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $56,614 University of Central Florida · $49,679 Virginia Tech · $60,111 Ohio State University · $57,049 North Carolina State University · $50,810 New York University · $67,176 Boston University · $51,214 Cornell University · $98,785 Arts: mean $45,188 Work College: mean $44,071 Military: mean $55,801 Female-only: mean $49,832 Liberal Arts: mean $46,948 Public University: mean $49,607 Religious University: mean $49,240 Private University: mean $51,522 Public University 1–25: mean $54,715 Private University 21–40: mean $59,195 Private University 1–20: mean $98,785 All colleges: p10 $41,623 All colleges: p90 $57,996
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Hospitality & Tourism 317 10,343 39% / 61% 10% $51,421 95%
Hospitality Management 157 4,809 31% / 69% 18% $51,335 95%
Recreation Management 78 1,071 49% / 51% 2% $46,801 95%
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 26 497 47% / 53% 0% $50,769 96%
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management 19 399 55% / 45% 1% $47,438 95%
Food Service Management 3 286 52% / 48% 11% $43,905 93%
Hotel Administration 2 273 45% / 55% 11% $72,477 94%
Event Management 2 219 13% / 87% 12% $51,254 95%
Hospitality and Tourism Management 8 216 31% / 69% 5% $54,599 95%
Tourism and Travel Services Management 7 180 41% / 59% 12% $48,290 94%
Meeting and Event Planning 9 124 5% / 95% 0% $50,613 94%
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management 2 119 47% / 53% 1% $52,076 96%
Therapeutic Recreation 9 118 11% / 89% 0% $55,840 95%
Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences 1 111 34% / 66% 1% $53,166 100%
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 2 104 70% / 30% 1% $53,196 100%
Recreation and Leisure Studies 4 101 64% / 36% 0% $47,838 94%
Recreation Administration 4 96 43% / 57% 1% $46,737 96%
Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration 1 93 38% / 62% 1% $73,677 100%
Hospitality Administration/Management 4 90 31% / 69% 8% $57,813 95%
Parks, Recreation and Leisure 1 83 73% / 27% 5% $55,121 98%
Recreation, Sport and Tourism 1 83 72% / 28% 2% $63,748 97%
Recreation 3 82 57% / 43% 1% $56,443 94%
Hospitality Administration 17 74 47% / 53% 1% $50,768 94%
Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management 2 70 24% / 76% 9% $59,542 98%
Recreation and Sport Management 1 68 78% / 22% 3% $43,412 92%
Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management 1 66 18% / 82% 5% $52,792 93%
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management 4 65 23% / 77% 0% $54,932 95%
Recreation and Park Administration 2 65 62% / 38% 3% $41,832 91%
Resort Management 2 53 51% / 49% 2% $48,704 93%
Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management 1 53 40% / 60% 0% $52,324 97%
Recreation and Event Management 1 49 84% / 16% 0% $53,543 98%
Restaurant/Food Services Management 2 44 27% / 73% 0% $52,877 95%
Hotel and Restaurant Management 3 42 31% / 69% 7% $47,020 95%
Recreation and Tourism Management 3 38 55% / 45% 3% $45,852 95%
Tourism Development and Management 1 37 22% / 78% 8% $51,941 94%
Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management 1 36 58% / 42% 8% $47,111
Tourism Management 2 35 43% / 57% 23% $49,854 94%
Customer Service Management 3 32 50% / 50% 0% $63,304 95%
Restaurant and Foodservice Management 1 32 38% / 62% 3% $49,679 93%
Leisure Studies 3 28 71% / 29% 0% $51,615 100%
Recreation, Tourism and Events 1 28 57% / 43% 0% $34,985 88%
Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management 1 28 54% / 46% 7% $67,259 92%
Hotel and Resort Management 1 24 25% / 75% 4% $52,381 82%
Parks, Recreation and Tourism 1 18 56% / 44% 6% $49,424
Recreation Marketing 1 18 78% / 22% 0% $61,321 100%
Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership 1 18 33% / 67% 0% $48,941 95%
Recreation and Tourism 2 17 65% / 35% 0% $43,668
Hospitality, Recreation, and Resort Management 1 17 12% / 88% 6% $41,233 95%
Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management 1 17 71% / 29% 0% $48,903
Park Management and Tourism 1 15 87% / 13% 0% $49,651 100%
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Resources 1 14 43% / 57% 0% $48,389 100%
Entertainment and Media Management 3 13 100% / 0% 0% $51,435 98%
Nutrition and Food Management 1 12 17% / 83% 0% $49,665
Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management 1 9 56% / 44% 11% $55,494
Food Business Management 1 8 25% / 75% 12% $59,956 92%
Recreation and Leisure Services 2 7 43% / 57% 0% $46,947 96%
Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations 2 7 29% / 71% 29% $49,054 100%
Foodservice Systems Administration/Management 2 4 25% / 75% 0% $45,024 90%
Hospitality Marketing 2 4 100% / 0% 25% $47,106 93%
Environmental Recreation and Tourism 1 4 50% / 50% 0% $48,261
Lodging and Restaurant Management 1 4 25% / 75% 0% $49,679 93%
Hospitality Management (Food Service) 1 3 67% / 33% 0% $59,086 92%
Outdoor Leadership 1 3 67% / 33% 0% $48,353
Restaurant Management 1 3 67% / 33% 0% $46,169 94%
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $53,254
Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $45,602
Casino Management 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $53,003 97%
Event Planning 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $48,698 93%
Travel and Tourism 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $52,087