Hospitality Administration/Management at Lasell University

Lasell's hospitality management program starts at $31,858—about $5,000 below the Massachusetts median and $3,000 below the national average for this field. While the program lands in the 40th percentile among Bay State hospitality programs, graduates face the reality of entering one of the lower-paying professional fields with debt that, though moderate at $27,000, still represents 85% of first-year earnings. For context, Boston University hospitality grads start at $44,657, and even UMass-Amherst grads earn $39,266.

The positive story here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see 29% income growth by year four, reaching $41,026. That's solid progression in an industry where many workers plateau early. The debt burden is also relatively manageable compared to some hospitality programs nationally (5th percentile), meaning Lasell keeps costs reasonable even if outcomes lag peers.

For families comfortable with hospitality as a career path, this program won't derail finances, but it's not delivering the value of state flagship alternatives. The gap between starting salary and what UMass-Amherst grads earn ($7,400 more) compounds significantly over time. If your child is passionate about hotel management and Lasell is the right fit socially, the debt is workable—just understand you're paying private school tuition for below-average market outcomes in Massachusetts.