Hospitality Administration/Management at ECPI University

ECPI University's hospitality management program produces earnings that fall significantly below what Virginia families should expect. First-year graduates earn $33,711—landing in just the 25th percentile among Virginia hospitality programs. That's nearly $12,000 less than the state median of $45,461, and roughly $13,000 below what nearby Virginia Tech and James Madison grads earn in the same field. This gap persists even four years out, when earnings reach $40,660, still trailing the state median by nearly $5,000.

The debt load adds to the concern. While $30,138 is relatively modest in absolute terms and below national averages, it represents nearly 90% of first-year earnings. For a hospitality management graduate starting at $33,711, this creates real financial pressure during those crucial early career years when building experience matters most. The 21% earnings growth over four years is positive, but it's not enough to close the gap with stronger Virginia programs that start graduates at significantly higher salaries from day one.

For Virginia families, this is a straightforward comparison: state universities are producing hospitality graduates who earn $12,000-13,000 more right out of school, often with comparable or lower debt. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances making ECPI the only viable option, in-state public alternatives deliver substantially better value in this field.