Best degree programs for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, ranked by enrollment
2 college programs and 61 schools train Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $61,160 median wage, 142,860 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
2 college programs at 61 schools train meeting, convention, and event planners, graduating 855 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Meeting and Event Planning. The job pays a median of $61,160 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About meeting, convention, and event planners
Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
2 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 52.0907 | 781 | 91.3% | 54 | $34,218 | $23,364 |
| 2 | CIP 19.0604 | 74 | 8.7% | 7 | $38,637 | $25,683 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 153 | Meeting and Event Planning | 78% | — | 40% |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 78 | Meeting and Event Planning | 75% | — | 89% |
| 3 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Meeting and Event Planning | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Meeting and Event Planning | 75% | — | 84% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Meeting and Event Planning | 86% | — | 61% |
| 6 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Facilities Planning and Management | 53% | — | 87% |
| 7 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 30 | Meeting and Event Planning | 61% | — | 72% |
| 8 | Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Santurce, PR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 27 | Meeting and Event Planning | 52% | $15,525 | 58% |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 26 | Meeting and Event Planning | 68% | — | 90% |
| 10 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Meeting and Event Planning | 25% | — | — |
| 11 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 22 | Meeting and Event Planning | 59% | — | 90% |
| 12 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 22 | Meeting and Event Planning | 63% | — | 66% |
| 13 | High Point University High Point, NC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Meeting and Event Planning | 74% | $37,072 | 75% |
| 14 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Meeting and Event Planning | 76% | — | 36% |
| 15 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Meeting and Event Planning | 69% | — | 73% |
| 16 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 17 | Meeting and Event Planning | 75% | — | 80% |
| 17 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Meeting and Event Planning | 32% | — | 99% |
| 18 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 14 | Facilities Planning and Management | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 19 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Facilities Planning and Management | 21% | — | 80% |
| 20 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Meeting and Event Planning | 32% | — | — |
| 21 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Meeting and Event Planning | 61% | — | 90% |
| 22 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Meeting and Event Planning | 45% | — | 89% |
| 23 | Albany Technical College Albany, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Meeting and Event Planning | 42% | — | — |
| 24 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Meeting and Event Planning | 49% | — | — |
| 25 | Endicott College Beverly, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 9 | Meeting and Event Planning | 76% | $34,195 | 71% |
| 26 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Meeting and Event Planning | 31% | — | — |
| 27 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Meeting and Event Planning | 41% | — | — |
| 28 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Facilities Planning and Management | 69% | — | 73% |
| 29 | Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Meeting and Event Planning | 17% | — | — |
| 30 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Carolina Campus Carolina, PR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Meeting and Event Planning | 34% | $8,847 | — |
| 31 | Edmonds College Lynnwood, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Meeting and Event Planning | 29% | — | — |
| 32 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Meeting and Event Planning | 29% | — | — |
| 33 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Meeting and Event Planning | 58% | — | 91% |
| 34 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Meeting and Event Planning | 58% | — | — |
| 35 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Meeting and Event Planning | 24% | — | — |
| 36 | Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Meeting and Event Planning | 69% | $16,216 | 82% |
| 37 | Harding University Searcy, AR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Facilities Planning and Management | 69% | $19,423 | 71% |
| 38 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Meeting and Event Planning | 54% | — | 76% |
| 39 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Meeting and Event Planning | 25% | — | — |
| 40 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Meeting and Event Planning | 35% | — | — |
| 41 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Facilities Planning and Management | 45% | — | — |
| 42 | Great Bay Community College Portsmouth, NH Public · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Meeting and Event Planning | 34% | — | — |
| 43 | Lasell University Newton, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Meeting and Event Planning | 59% | $23,724 | 81% |
| 44 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Meeting and Event Planning | 38% | — | — |
| 45 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Meeting and Event Planning | 35% | — | — |
| 46 | Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland, MD Public · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Meeting and Event Planning | 40% | — | — |
| 47 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Meeting and Event Planning | 57% | $10,199 | — |
| 48 | Bucks County Community College Newtown, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Meeting and Event Planning | 32% | — | — |
| 49 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Meeting and Event Planning | 64% | $8,360 | 12% |
| 50 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Meeting and Event Planning | 68% | $24,409 | 78% |
What meeting, convention, and event planners earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floridamoderate | $60,270 | 10,480 | 1.15× | 3 | 176 |
| Iowalimited | $51,750 | 1,120 | 0.78× | 2 | 145 |
| New Yorkmoderate | $74,730 | 10,330 | 1.16× | 4 | 92 |
| Texasmoderate | $57,470 | 10,730 | 0.83× | 4 | 84 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,170 | 3,940 | 0.71× | 6 | 59 |
| Arizonamoderate | $61,330 | 3,440 | 1.16× | 3 | 42 |
| Georgiamoderate | $49,250 | 5,050 | 1.12× | 4 | 34 |
| Illinoislimited | $59,840 | 5,220 | 0.93× | 1 | 24 |
| Michiganlimited | $52,780 | 3,560 | 0.88× | 1 | 22 |
| North Carolinalimited | $54,990 | 4,340 | 0.96× | 1 | 21 |
| Californialimited | $71,120 | 20,650 | 1.23× | 1 | 18 |
| Utahlimited | $54,150 | 1,970 | 1.24× | 2 | 17 |
| Coloradolimited | $62,050 | 4,650 | 1.76× | 1 | 16 |
| Ohiomoderate | $49,900 | 4,750 | 0.93× | 3 | 15 |
| Wisconsinmoderate | $53,940 | 2,690 | 1.00× | 4 | 12 |
| Massachusettslimited | $75,740 | 4,640 | 1.39× | 2 | 11 |
| Indianamoderate | $50,090 | 2,140 | 0.73× | 3 | 7 |
| Louisianalimited | $61,150 | 610 | 0.35× | 1 | 5 |
| Missourilimited | $56,900 | 2,500 | 0.93× | 2 | 5 |
| New Hampshiremoderate | $63,250 | 510 | 0.81× | 3 | 4 |
| Washingtonlimited | $65,530 | 3,600 | 1.10× | 1 | 4 |
| Arkansaslimited | $53,040 | 550 | 0.46× | 1 | 3 |
| Nebraskalimited | $52,630 | 610 | 0.65× | 1 | 2 |
| Connecticutlimited | $70,010 | 1,450 | 0.93× | 1 | 1 |
| Marylandlimited | $63,280 | 2,570 | 1.01× | 1 | 1 |
| Minnesotalimited | $57,710 | 3,160 | 1.17× | 1 | 1 |
| West Virginialimited | $35,760 | 300 | 0.47× | 1 | 1 |
| Wyominglimited | $55,550 | 120 | 0.48× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment.
- Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
- Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs.
- Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details.
- Inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.
- Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.
- Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.5
- Monitoring3.5
- Active Learning3.4
- Mathematics2.5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3
- English Language4.2
- Communications and Media3.7
- Administrative3.5
- Administration and Management3.4
- Computers and Electronics3.3
Abilities
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Written Expression4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
- Speech Recognition4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
Core activities
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.6
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.5
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.5
- Working with Computers4.4
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.3
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Meeting
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 2 majors mapped to Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 19.0604Facilities Planning and Management
- 52.0907Meeting and Event Planning
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Meeting?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Meeting and Event Planning, which awarded 781 degrees in 2024-25, 91.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Meeting?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this occupation. The largest are Hospitality Administration/Management, Housing and Human Environments. Together they graduate about 855 people a year.
How much do meeting, convention, and event planners earn?+
The median is $61,160 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $36,830 at the 10th percentile to $101,700 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for meeting, convention, and event planners growing?+
BLS projects a +4.8% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 15,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
61 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do meeting, convention, and event planners work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Events Manager, Conference Planning Manager, Conference Services Manager, Convention Services Manager (CSM) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 13-1121.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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