Hospitality Administration/Management at Flagler College

Starting at under $30,000 annually in Florida's hospitality market should concern any parent, particularly when nearby competitors like Florida Gulf Coast and FSU place graduates earning $37,000-$39,000. While Flagler keeps debt relatively low at $27,000, first-year earnings lag behind not just Florida's median ($34,656) but also the national benchmark by roughly $5,000—placing this program in just the 16th percentile nationally.

The small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, making it difficult to assess whether this represents a pattern or an anomaly. What's more concerning is the trajectory: even with modest debt, earning under $30,000 in a tourism-heavy state like Florida suggests limited immediate career opportunities compared to what other in-state programs deliver. At 40th percentile among Florida hospitality programs, Flagler sits squarely in the middle of the pack statewide while performing much worse nationally.

For families considering in-state tuition options, the numbers point toward stronger returns at larger Florida schools. The debt load is manageable, but when peer institutions consistently deliver $5,000-$9,000 more in starting earnings, that gap compounds quickly. If Flagler is the choice for other reasons, understand that the hospitality program specifically underperforms its Florida peers in early career outcomes.