Hospitality Administration/Management at California State University-Northridge

The first year after graduation will test your patience—starting at just $25,340 puts this program in the bottom 5% nationally for hospitality management. However, the trajectory reverses dramatically: by year four, earnings nearly double to $48,580, leaping ahead of the state median and closing in on top California programs like Cal State Long Beach. Among California's ten hospitality programs, this ranks at the 25th percentile—not stellar, but the 92% earnings growth tells a different story than that initial placement suggests.

The debt picture provides some relief: at $15,000, graduates owe less than the state median and far less than the national average of nearly $24,000. That low debt cushions the difficult first year, though it doesn't change the reality that early earnings lag significantly behind other Cal State hospitality programs. The school's 56% Pell grant enrollment suggests many students here are managing tight budgets where that first-year salary matters considerably.

This program rewards patience in a field where career progression often matters more than starting salary. If your child can weather lean early years—perhaps living at home or working multiple hospitality roles—the four-year earnings suggest genuine advancement. But families needing immediate post-graduation income should note that San Diego State and other Cal State campuses deliver stronger starting positions with similar debt loads.