Hospitality Administration/Management at University of Southern Maine

Starting at under $30,000 annually puts University of Southern Maine's hospitality management graduates well behind both state and national peers—this ranks in just the 17th percentile nationally and 25th within Maine, where the typical hospitality grad earns $35,368. For context, Husson University's hospitality grads in the state start at nearly $41,000. The small class size (under 30 students) means these figures could shift dramatically year to year, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention.

The debt picture offers a small silver lining: at $20,500, students here borrow about $3,400 less than the national median. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.69, meaning graduates owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary. That's manageable from a payment standpoint, but the core problem remains the earning power itself—hospitality careers can build over time, but starting this far below market rate puts graduates behind peers who might access better positions or markets.

Given the limited sample and USM's 79% admission rate, this program appears to be serving students who need an accessible path to a degree. If your child is drawn to hospitality, investigate whether they'd have opportunities at programs like Husson, or whether USM offers specific hotel or restaurant partnerships that could boost placement. The low starting salary matters most if it reflects limited connections to higher-paying employers rather than just temporary market fluctuations.