Hospitality Administration/Management at Monroe University

Monroe University's hospitality program produces some of the lowest graduate earnings in the nation—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. That $26,930 starting salary is roughly $8,000 below New York's state median for hospitality programs and $12,000 below even nearby SUNY Plattsburgh. The $27,000 in debt creates an immediate burden where graduates owe more than their entire first-year salary, a ratio that signals serious financial strain for young professionals trying to establish themselves in New York's expensive housing market.

The 35% earnings growth to $36,330 by year four offers some relief, but context matters: graduates would still be earning less than typical hospitality grads make right out of school at most other programs. While Monroe ranks at the 40th percentile within New York—meaning some state programs perform worse—this reflects New York's particularly competitive hospitality market where programs like Cornell ($77,803) and NYU ($40,637) dominate outcomes. Monroe serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (58%), which deserves recognition, but that doesn't change the financial reality facing graduates.

For families considering this investment, the math is challenging. Your child would likely start at under $27,000 while carrying equivalent debt, in one of America's most expensive metro areas. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances—location constraints, transfer credits, or family ties to the school—exploring alternatives like SUNY Plattsburgh or even community college pathways into hospitality would provide better financial footing for launching a career in this field.