Hospitality Administration/Management at University of New Orleans

Students launching hospitality careers from UNO start with notably low earnings—$27,878 puts this program in the bottom 5% nationally—but the trajectory tells a more optimistic story. By year four, median earnings jump to $44,270, a 59% increase that surpasses both the Louisiana state median ($28,587) and the national benchmark ($34,675). This suggests graduates may be moving into supervisory or management roles as they gain experience in New Orleans' robust hospitality sector.

That said, the initial earnings gap creates real challenges. First-year income falls $6,800 below the national median for hospitality programs, which means recent graduates will struggle to service even the relatively modest $23,905 in debt while covering living expenses in New Orleans. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 isn't alarming, but combined with that low starting salary, it means tighter budgets early on. Among Louisiana's four hospitality programs, UNO sits right at the 40th percentile—middle of the pack for the state.

The key question is whether your student can weather those lean first years. If they have family support or minimal living expenses, this program offers a genuine path upward in an industry with local opportunities. If they need immediate financial independence, the delayed payoff makes this a riskier choice than higher-earning alternatives like Northwestern State.