Hospitality Administration/Management at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
IN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.09
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Hospitality Administration/Management degree from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median salary of $51,524 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $56,996. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,349
Typical Career
$51,524
Top Performers
$65,669
Estimated break-even: 11.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$343
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,294. Most students can comfortably afford about a $343 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Indiana buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$56,996
Nominal: $51,524 in Indiana (COL 90.4% of national avg) · 10.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $29,241 | $37,796 | $47,497 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,349 | $51,524 | $65,669 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $46,435 | $62,818 | $84,400 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $51,524 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IN, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.4% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $51,524 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9040)
= $56,996 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries that graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance (25.6%), Educational Services (12.9%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (9.8%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 11.2 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in this field appears favorable. This suggests that while initial earnings may not be exceptionally high, the long-term financial benefits and diverse career opportunities can make this degree a worthwhile investment.
Compare with Another School
See how the Hospitality Administration/Management degree at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.