Hospitality Administration/Management at Manchester Community College
CT · Associate's Degree · CIP 52.09
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Hospitality Administration/Management degree from Manchester Community College earn a median salary of $40,978 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $35,540. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.9 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
$32,393
Typical Career
$40,978
Top Performers
$55,261
Estimated break-even: 15.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$273
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,415. Most students can comfortably afford about a $273 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Connecticut buys what costs $1.15 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Finance & Insurance, Retail Trade.
Where Associate'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
$35,540
Nominal: $40,978 in Connecticut (COL 115.3% of national avg) · 13.3% lower 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 | $28,309 | $37,460 | $50,007 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $32,393 | $40,978 | $55,261 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $38,771 | $55,464 | $69,154 |
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 $40,978 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CT, which has a cost-of-living index of 115.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $40,978 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1530)
= $35,540 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates predominantly include Health Care & Social Assistance, with 32.8%, 24.6%, and 18.8% of graduates entering this sector. This concentration suggests a strong alignment between the program and employment opportunities in these fields. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 15.9 years, indicating a longer return on investment. Students should weigh these factors carefully when considering the financial implications of their education in hospitality management.
Compare with Another School
See how the Hospitality Administration/Management degree at Manchester Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Manchester Community College
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.