What can you do with a Hospitality And Tourism Management degree?

First, some facts. Of the Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 140 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 60%, Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates have a lower likelihood (-7%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 60%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 14% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Hospitality And Tourism Management graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 0%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor in Hospitality And Tourism Management. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
General Manager
WUHAN MIDNITE CREATIVE ART CO.
Dec 2018 - Aug 2019
The role of General Manager at WUHAN MIDNITE CREATIVE ART CO. does not require skills or knowledge related to Hospitality and Tourism Management, as it likely focuses more on management within the art sector.

General Manager
Wuhan New Rainbow Plastic Company
Feb 2011 - Nov 2019
The position of General Manager at Wuhan New Rainbow Plastic Company does not involve the hospitality or tourism sector and thus does not utilize the specific skills derived from a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

ABOUT

Over 10 years of experience that includes 8 as a General Manager within a high-volumemanufacturing operation. Record of achievements and valuable contributions includes a 100%sales increase, substantial time and cost savings (via new technology implementation), qualityimprovements, and a successful Avenger Station exhibition tour. B.A. degree.- Experience in working with a wide variety of departments (e.g., Finance, Sales, Operations, and Manufacturing).- Skilled in handling a broad range of responsibilities concurrently within highly demanding environments.- Success in identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions for immediate and long-term benefits.- Bilingual communicator who builds positive, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

What jobs can you get with a Hospitality And Tourism Management degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When delving into the diverse career paths taken by graduates of Hospitality and Tourism Management from various universities, a clear trend emerges. Many of these individuals have found employment in roles closely related to hospitality and tourism, particularly within customer service, event management, and hotel operations. Common titles such as Food Server, Event Coordinator, and various managerial positions within the hospitality industry dominate the list. These roles typically require a strong focus on customer interaction and service excellence – key components of any hospitality education. For instance, positions like Guest Service Representatives or Front Desk Managers directly apply the core principles learned in their degree programs, revealing a strong alignment with the skills relevant to hospitality management.

However, while a significant number of graduates do end up in positions that directly utilize the knowledge from their studies, there are also many whose careers diverged from the anticipated hospitality path. Instances of graduates working in roles such as human resources, sales, and event planning that do not fully engage their hospitality expertise are noteworthy. For example, many have taken jobs in project management, marketing, or in entirely different industries, illustrating that the skills learned in hospitality can be transferable but not always leveraged in traditional hospitality settings. Some even find themselves in positions related to finance or administrative roles, showcasing a disconnect in aligning their education with job responsibilities. Overall, it highlights a mixed landscape where, despite a foundation in hospitality and tourism management, upward mobility often leads graduates to a variety of career avenues, not strictly limited to the hospitality industry.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

So, when we take a look at all these graduates from Hospitality and Tourism Management programs, it’s pretty clear that they mostly start out in roles that are directly related to the industry—especially in customer service or event planning. For instance, a lot of the people got their initial jobs as food servers, front desk agents, or event coordinators right after they graduated. This makes a lot of sense because those are hands-on positions that give them a taste of what working in the hospitality field is like. They’re gaining practical experience, building essential skills and networking, which is super important in this industry. However, it’s also worth noting that there are a few examples of grads taking on pretty unrelated roles right off the bat, like in medical billing or customer service, which can be a bit of a red flag regarding how directly aligned some of the career paths are with their studies in hospitality and tourism.

Fast forward five or ten years, and we see a pretty mixed bag of outcomes. Many graduates who stayed within hospitality tend to climb the ranks. For instance, several have moved up to managerial positions, like event managers or even directors of food and beverage operations. That’s definitely a solid sign that those who stuck with it found success! On the flip side, there are also instances where individuals have transitioned out of hospitality completely or settled into roles that feel a bit outside their original career path, like those who went from hotel management into roles at tech companies. Overall, it's fair to say that while a good number of these grads are making strides in hospitality-related careers, there’s quite the handful who’ve either struggled to find their footing or opted for completely different paths that don’t really reflect their degree. This suggests a level of unpredictability about where a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management might lead someone, which is something to think about if you’re considering jumping into this field yourself!

How hard is a Hospitality And Tourism Management degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management is often considered to be on the easier side compared to some other majors, especially if you're someone who enjoys working with people and has a passion for travel and experiences. Most of the coursework is pretty relatable and practical, focusing on areas like event planning, customer service, and marketing, which can be fun and engaging. Sure, there will be some projects and maybe a bit of math involved, but overall, if you put in the effort and stay organized, you’ll probably find it manageable. Just keep in mind that it’s not all about passing exams; real-world applications and internships are key parts of learning in this field!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Hospitality And Tourism Management.

Do Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Hospitality and Tourism Management graduates, it's a mixed bag when it comes to salaries. Some of them started in entry-level positions—like servers and coordinators—which generally don't pay the big bucks right off the bat. For example, the food server from Pace University is still working their way up in the industry, and that's pretty common for fresh graduates. Meanwhile, those who have climbed the ranks to managerial or specialist roles, like the graduates from Purdue University and Virginia Tech, likely nab higher salaries based on their positions in established companies and experience.

Overall, it appears that many have made decent money or are positioned to do so in the future, especially those with experience in management roles or specialized positions like the Senior Manager at Marriott or the Luxury Services Manager at a Las Vegas resort. But for others just starting out, patience will be key, as they may need to find their footing before hitting those higher salary milestones. It’s definitely a journey, and networking or gaining varied experience can play a huge part in getting to that next financial level.

What buzzwords do Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Hospitality And Tourism Management. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Hospitality And Tourism Management?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Hospitality And Tourism Management (ordered by the average relevance score of their Hospitality And Tourism Management graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Grand Valley State University 70 18
Purdue University 65 20