Hospitality Administration/Management at New York Institute of Technology

At less than $23,000 in first-year earnings, New York Institute of Technology's hospitality program produces outcomes that fall dramatically short of what other New York schools deliver. While the 25th state percentile placement sounds middling, look at what that means in practice: Cornell hospitality grads earn $78,000, and even SUNY Plattsburgh's program yields $39,000—nearly double what NYIT graduates report. The national picture is equally concerning, with NYIT landing in just the 5th percentile nationwide.

The debt load of $21,750 isn't outrageous by itself, but paired with earnings barely above minimum wage, it creates real financial stress. That 0.95 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary, making even basic loan payments difficult on a hospitality worker's schedule. For context, New York's median for this degree is $31,629—37% higher than NYIT delivers.

The small sample size here matters—these numbers could shift with more data. But given NYIT's 78% admission rate and the availability of stronger hospitality programs throughout New York (including more affordable SUNY options), it's hard to justify this choice. If your child is serious about hospitality management, programs like SUNY Plattsburgh or even the Culinary Institute offer vastly better earning potential for similar or lower debt.