Hospitality Administration/Management at Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo

This program faces a fundamental problem: graduates earn less four years out than they do immediately after graduation. Starting at $28,789, earnings drop to $22,625 by year four—a 21% decline that suggests graduates are either leaving hospitality or struggling to advance within it. While starting earnings match both national and New York medians, the debt load of $26,508 creates a debt-to-earnings ratio that approaches 1:1, meaning graduates owe nearly a full year's salary.

The debt burden here is particularly heavy. At the 5th percentile nationally, this program saddles students with more debt than 95% of hospitality associate's programs across the country. That $26,508 figure is $9,000 above the national median and $4,000 above New York's median for this credential. Given that two-thirds of students here receive Pell grants, these debt levels hit an economically vulnerable population especially hard.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious consideration. Community colleges like Monroe offer the same credential with better outcomes and typically lower debt. Unless there are specific career connections or support services that justify the premium, families should examine lower-cost alternatives that won't leave graduates paying down associate's degree debt while earning entry-level hospitality wages.