Hospitality Administration/Management: James Madison University vs University of Wisconsin-Stout

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
In-State
10.5x
$54,304 tuition
12.8x
$40,568 tuition
Out-of-State
4.6x
$123,160 tuition
6.9x
$74,824 tuition
$571,194 10-yr earnings · Public
$518,493 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

James Madison University University of Wisconsin-Stout
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 6.9x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $54,304 $40,568
Year 1 Earnings $46,915 $43,359
10-Year Earnings $571K $518K
Median Debt $19,875 $24,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.1 months 6.6 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 56/100 58/100
Acceptance Rate 76.2% 84.7%

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.

James Madison University University of Wisconsin-Stout
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $54,304 $40,568
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $123,160 $74,824
10-Year Projected Earnings $571K $518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 6.9x
5-Year Salary Growth +39% +24%

"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.

James Madison University University of Wisconsin-Stout
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $579K $571K $519K $521K $518K $479K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 10.7x 10.5x 9.5x 12.8x 12.8x 11.8x
DegreeWorth Score 58 56 48 59 58 50

For the full AI analysis of Hospitality Administration/Management career paths, see the James Madison University or University of Wisconsin-Stout program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$13,736
University of Wisconsin-Stout saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$3,556/yr
James Madison University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
10.5x / 12.8x
Out-of-state: 4.6x / 6.9x

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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Hospitality Administration/Management: James Madison University or University of Wisconsin-Stout?
James Madison University scores 56/100 while University of Wisconsin-Stout scores 58/100. University of Wisconsin-Stout 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?
James Madison University has an in-state earnings multiple of 10.5x vs University of Wisconsin-Stout's 12.8x. That means University of Wisconsin-Stout grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do James Madison University and University of Wisconsin-Stout compare on Hospitality Administration/Management earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $46,915 at James Madison University vs $43,359 at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $571,194 vs $518,493 — a difference of $52,701.
How much does Hospitality Administration/Management cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $54,304 at James Madison University and $40,568 at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Median debt at graduation is $19,875 vs $24,000. 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.