Hospitality Administration/Management at George Washington University

George Washington's hospitality program shows impressive earnings that dwarf the national median—graduates start at $53,625 versus the typical $34,675 for hospitality degrees, placing this in the 95th percentile nationally. The earnings trajectory is strong too, with median compensation jumping 42% to over $76,000 by year four. However, with DC's limited hospitality landscape (just four programs total), context is tricky. At the 60th percentile within the district, GW sits solidly middle-of-the-pack locally, suggesting DC hospitality programs generally outperform national norms.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $22,500—just below the national median—creating a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates should be able to handle these loans comfortably even on starting salaries. The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary considerably from these medians.

For families weighing a selective university's hospitality degree, this presents a genuine value proposition if the career path is clear. The combination of strong earnings growth and modest debt suggests graduates are finding quality positions in DC's robust hospitality and events industry. Just recognize that the small cohort size means these numbers represent a narrow slice of outcomes, not a guarantee.