Hospitality Administration/Management at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska-Lincoln's hospitality program delivers exactly what matters most: graduates who significantly out-earn their peers nationally. At $39,689 in the first year, these graduates earn 14% more than the typical hospitality management graduate nationwide, placing them in the 84th percentile. That gap widens over time, with four-year earnings reaching $47,880—a 21% increase that suggests strong career progression in an industry where many programs show stagnant wages.

The debt picture is equally solid. At $22,250, graduates carry less debt than the national median for this program ($23,920), creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. For context, owing roughly half your first-year salary is reasonable, especially when that salary exceeds most peers'. Within Nebraska, this program ranks at the 60th percentile—middle of the pack locally but still a strong performer given there are only three such programs in the state.

The combination of above-average starting salaries, below-average debt, and meaningful earnings growth makes this a straightforward value proposition. Your child enters a competitive job market with better financial footing than most hospitality graduates nationally. With Nebraska's relatively accessible admissions and the program's track record of placing graduates into positions with room to grow, this represents a practical path into hospitality management without excessive financial risk.