Hospitality Administration/Management: American Public University System vs Cornell University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
15.9x
$33,600 tuition
2.6x
$264,056 tuition
$534,215 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$697,010 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

American Public University System Cornell University
Earnings Multiple 15.9x 2.6x
4-Year Tuition $33,600 $264,056
Year 1 Earnings $37,174 $77,803
10-Year Earnings $534K $697K
Median Debt $31,334 $13,086
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 10.1 months 2.0 months
DegreeWorth Score 59/100 51/100

Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Hospitality Administration/Management graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Hospitality Administration/Management graduates.

American Public University System Cornell University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $264,056
10-Year Projected Earnings $534K $697K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 2.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +48% +27%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Hospitality Administration/Management (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

American Public University System Cornell University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $538K $534K $491K $718K $697K $612K
Earnings Multiple 16.0x 15.9x 14.6x 2.7x 2.6x 2.3x
DegreeWorth Score 60 59 51 52 51 45

For the full AI analysis of Hospitality Administration/Management career paths, see the American Public University System or Cornell University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Hospitality Administration/Management graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$230,456
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$40,629/yr
Cornell University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.9x / 2.6x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Hospitality Administration/Management graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Facilities managers $104,690 13,200 +3.8% 48%
Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270 8,100 +5.7% 49%
Gambling managers $85,580 600 +1.2% 57%
Business operations specialists, all other $81,270 108,200 +3.0% 52%
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling $77,180 5,500 +7.7% 35%
Lodging managers $68,130 5,400 +3.4% 46%
Food service managers $65,310 42,000 +6.4% 42%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Hospitality Administration/Management: American Public University System or Cornell University?
American Public University System scores 59/100 while Cornell University scores 51/100. American Public University System has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Hospitality Administration/Management?
American Public University System has an in-state earnings multiple of 15.9x vs Cornell University's 2.6x. That means American Public University System grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $230,456 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do American Public University System and Cornell University compare on Hospitality Administration/Management earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $37,174 at American Public University System vs $77,803 at Cornell University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $534,215 vs $697,010 — a difference of $162,795.
How much does Hospitality Administration/Management cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $264,056 at Cornell University. Median debt at graduation is $31,334 vs $13,086. Both programs lead to the same Hospitality Administration/Management career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.