Hospitality Administration/Management at College of the Ozarks

Similar hospitality programs in Missouri suggest first-year earnings around $36,451—a figure that sits just above the national median for this field. That's paired with estimated debt of $24,462, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. For context, that means borrowing roughly eight months of that first year's salary, which while manageable on paper, leaves little cushion in an industry known for demanding hours and modest starting pay.

What complicates the picture here is College of the Ozarks' unusual profile: a 15% admission rate and strong academics suggest selectivity, yet 44% of students receive Pell grants. This combination hints at the school's work-study model, where students work on campus to offset costs. If that kept actual borrowing below the estimated $24,462, the math would improve considerably. But without program-specific data, parents can't know whether hospitality graduates specifically benefit from reduced debt loads.

The practical question is whether this investment—even at peer program levels—positions graduates competitively. Missouri's hospitality market appears consistent across schools, with earnings clustering tightly between $34,000 and $39,000. Given the uncertainty around both the debt and earnings figures for this specific program, parents should contact the school directly to understand what hospitality graduates actually earn and owe before committing.