Hospitality Administration/Management at Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University's hospitality program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, both nationally (65th percentile) and among Florida's 19 hospitality programs (60th percentile). Graduates earn $36,827 in their first year—about $2,000 more than the typical Florida hospitality graduate and roughly $2,000 more than the national median. While that's not exceptional, it's solid for a field where starting salaries rarely break $40,000 even at top programs. The $23,032 median debt is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, which means graduates owe less than eight months of their first-year income.

The 21% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests decent career trajectory, with graduates reaching $44,481 by their fourth year out—a meaningful improvement that puts them ahead of where many hospitality grads plateau. For context, FAU trails Florida Gulf Coast ($39,108 first-year earnings) and Florida State ($37,330) but beats larger programs like UCF. The accessible admission standards (73% acceptance rate) and significant Pell grant population (35%) mean this program serves students who might not have access to more selective options.

If your child is committed to hospitality management and wants to stay in Florida, this program delivers reasonable value without extraordinary debt. The earnings won't impress relative to other business fields, but they're competitive within the industry, and the debt load is tolerable for what hospitality careers realistically pay.