Hospitality Administration/Management at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Four years into their careers, SIU-Carbondale hospitality graduates earn $40,930—well above both the state and national medians for this field. While first-year earnings estimates around $35,300 (based on comparable Illinois programs) suggest a typical entry point for hospitality management, the trajectory to year four shows meaningful growth that outpaces most peer institutions. This puts graduates ahead of programs at DePaul and Northern Illinois, though still trailing National Louis University's stronger early outcomes.

The $27,000 debt load sits slightly above state and national norms but remains manageable given the four-year earnings picture. At 0.76 times estimated first-year earnings, this debt level is reasonable for a field where graduates often start in operational roles before advancing to management positions. The relatively high admission rate and substantial Pell grant population (37%) suggest the program serves students who might not access hospitality education elsewhere, which adds context to the solid mid-career outcomes.

For families concerned about return on investment in hospitality management, SIU-Carbondale demonstrates that the real value emerges after those first couple of years in the industry. The four-year earnings data is actual reported outcome—not estimated—and shows graduates competing successfully in Illinois's hospitality market. If your student is committed to hospitality and willing to work through lower-paying entry positions, this program delivers competitive mid-career results at a debt level that won't derail financial progress.