Hospitality Administration/Management at Youngstown State University

The small sample size here deserves attention upfront—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few data points. That said, the pattern is concerning enough to note: graduates start at $28,245, roughly $6,500 below the state median and landing in just the 10th percentile nationally for hospitality programs. While earnings jump 60% to $45,140 by year four—an impressive growth rate that eventually surpasses most peer programs—that difficult first year matters. The debt load of $25,687 means graduates face nearly a full year's starting salary in loans, creating real cash flow pressure during those lean early years.

What's somewhat encouraging is the 40th percentile state ranking, suggesting this program isn't actually the worst option in Ohio—it's just that hospitality as a field starts low everywhere. The question is whether your child can weather those first few years financially. If they're living at home or have other support, the trajectory looks better. If they're covering rent and loan payments on $28K, that's a tough calculation even with strong growth ahead. Given the program's small size and YSU's accessible admission profile, this might work for students with realistic expectations about hospitality's entry-level reality, but families expecting typical bachelor's-degree returns will be disappointed.