Hospitality Administration/Management at University of South Carolina Beaufort

USC Beaufort's hospitality management program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—and in South Carolina's competitive hospitality market, that means falling behind stronger options. Starting salaries of $34,503 place this program in the 40th percentile statewide, trailing both flagship USC-Columbia and College of Charleston by $2,000-$5,000 annually. When multiple South Carolina schools offer the same degree, those gaps compound quickly over a career.

The debt load of nearly $24,000 aligns with national and state norms, yielding a manageable 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates do see solid growth—earnings jump 19% to over $41,000 by year four—suggesting the degree provides a viable path into hospitality careers. For students who specifically want the smaller campus environment Beaufort offers and plan to work in the region's resort and tourism industry, this could work.

However, parents should recognize they're paying similar costs for below-average outcomes compared to other South Carolina programs. If your child can gain admission to USC-Columbia or College of Charleston, the higher starting salaries there justify the application effort. The moderate sample size here (30-100 graduates) also means these outcomes could shift with future cohorts. This isn't a bad program, but it's one where location preference and campus fit need to justify accepting less competitive results.