Hospitality Management: Appalachian State University vs James Madison University
Head-to-Head
| Appalachian State University | James Madison University | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.8x | 9.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.2x | 4.2x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $30,164 | $54,304 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $33,702 | $46,915 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $415K | $512K |
| Median Debt | $21,945 | $19,875 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 7.8 months | 5.1 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 69/100 | 72/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% | 76.2% |
Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Hospitality Management graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Hospitality Management graduates.
| Appalachian State University | James Madison University | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $30,164 | $54,304 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $98,148 | $123,160 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $415K | $512K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.8x | 9.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.2x | 4.2x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +72% | +39% |
"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 Management (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| Appalachian State University | James Madison University | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $668K | $415K | $253K | $700K | $512K | $352K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 22.2x | 13.8x | 8.4x | 12.9x | 9.4x | 6.5x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 73 | 69 | 62 | 74 | 72 | 67 |
For the full AI analysis of Hospitality Management career paths, see the Appalachian State University or James Madison University program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Hospitality Management graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Hospitality 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% |