Hospitality Administration/Management: American Public University System vs George Mason University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
15.9x
$33,600 tuition
9.7x
$55,260 tuition
Out-of-State
15.9x
$33,600 tuition
3.4x
$157,588 tuition
$534,215 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$534,606 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

American Public University System George Mason University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 15.9x 3.4x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $55,260
Year 1 Earnings $37,174 $45,151
10-Year Earnings $534K $535K
Median Debt $31,334 $20,500
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 10.1 months 5.4 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 59/100 55/100

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 George Mason University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $55,260
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $33,600 $157,588
10-Year Projected Earnings $534K $535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 15.9x 3.4x
5-Year Salary Growth +48% +28%

"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 George Mason University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $538K $534K $491K $539K $535K $491K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 16.0x 15.9x 14.6x 9.8x 9.7x 8.9x
DegreeWorth Score 60 59 51 56 55 46

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

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$21,660
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$7,977/yr
George Mason University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.9x / 9.7x
Out-of-state: 15.9x / 3.4x

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 George Mason University?
American Public University System scores 59/100 while George Mason University scores 55/100. 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 George Mason University's 9.7x. That means American Public University System grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $21,660 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do American Public University System and George Mason University compare on Hospitality Administration/Management earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $37,174 at American Public University System vs $45,151 at George Mason University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $534,215 vs $534,606 — a difference of $391.
How much does Hospitality Administration/Management cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $55,260 at George Mason University. Median debt at graduation is $31,334 vs $20,500. 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.