2026 Best Value Hospitality Management Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Hospitality Management doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 659 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Business Degree Central analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Hospitality Management Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Cornell University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Students borrow a median of $13,987 to complete their Hospitality Management program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $104,043. Set against $13,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 9% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Cornell University
Out of the 659 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Houston landed the #2 spot. University Of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. The median Hospitality Management program debt is $21,423. University Of Houston alumni report median earnings of $62,377 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,423 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%. See the full University Of Houston profile
Out of the 659 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #3 spot. Set in Las Vegas, NV, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Students borrow a median of $19,003 to complete their Hospitality Management program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nevada Las Vegas has an acceptance rate of 96%. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Out of the 659 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #4 spot. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $72,097. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place in the United States. Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,432 to complete their Hospitality Management program here. Median earnings reach $72,424 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,432 median debt. About 50% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. The median Hospitality Management program debt is $20,998. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,386. That is a strong return on a $20,998 median debt. Iowa State University has an acceptance rate of 89%. Get the full Iowa State University report
The University Of Tennessee landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete their Hospitality Management program here. Median earnings reach $60,249 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. See the full The University Of Tennessee profile
Washington State University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Pullman, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $68,905. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted. More on Washington State University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #9 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public school based in University, MS. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical Hospitality Management student debt is $25,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,994. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%. Read the full report on University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Hospitality Management program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,177. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
University Of Central Florida came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. University Of Central Florida is a public school based in Orlando, FL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. University Of Central Florida alumni report median earnings of $58,308 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%. Read more about University Of Central Florida
Ashland University placed #12 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ashland University
Columbus Technical College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full Columbus Technical College profile
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. See the full Eastern Kentucky University profile
Lake Land College placed #15 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Read the full report on Lake Land College
St Johns University New York placed #16 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Read more about St Johns University New York
Saint Josephs College New York offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Saint Josephs College New York report
San Ignacio University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on San Ignacio University
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi report
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College profile
Lorain County Community College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Lorain County Community College report
Meredith College
Meredith College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. Read the full report on Meredith College
Potomac College Washington ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. See the full Potomac College Washington profile
Robert Morris University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Robert Morris University
Tiffin University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Tiffin University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Hospitality Management Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Eastern Illinois University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. Read more about Eastern Illinois University
El Paso Community College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full El Paso Community College report
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus placed #28 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Read more about Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus
Trocaire College
Trocaire College came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Trocaire College
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
Fort Lewis College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. Get the full Fort Lewis College report
San Jose State University offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on San Jose State University
Southern University And A And M College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. See the full Southern University And A And M College profile
Capital Community College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. See the full Capital Community College profile
Columbia College South Carolina came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on Columbia College South Carolina
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #37 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Get the full East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania report
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro
Kapiolani Community College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Kapiolani Community College
Montgomery County Community College placed #40 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Read more about Montgomery County Community College
North Carolina Central University placed #41 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. See the full North Carolina Central University profile
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Blue Ridge Community And Technical College
Delaware Technical Community College Terry offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Delaware Technical Community College Terry report
Florida Keys Community College placed #44 among the best-value Hospitality Management schools in the United States. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
Lamar University
Lamar University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. More on Lamar University
Quinsigamond Community College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Quinsigamond Community College
Yavapai College
Yavapai College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. See the full Yavapai College profile
Mt Hood Community College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Mt Hood Community College
Niagara University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Niagara University profile
Skagit Valley College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Hospitality Management schools. Get the full Skagit Valley College report
Related Hospitality Management Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Hospitality Management Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Hospitality Management Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Hospitality Management Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Hospitality Management Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Hospitality Management Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Hospitality Management Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Hospitality Management Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 659 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
BusinessDegreeCentral.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© BusinessDegreeCentral.com – All Rights Reserved.