Best institutions to study Resort Management
A program that prepares individuals to plan, manage, and market comprehensive vacation facilities and services and related products.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 163 Resort Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0906, a specialization of Hospitality Administration/Management (CIP 52.09), and leads most directly to the Lodging Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9081).
About Resort Management programs
A program that prepares individuals to plan, manage, and market comprehensive vacation facilities and services and related products. Includes instruction in hospitality administration, hotel/motel management, restaurant and food services management, facilities planning, leisure studies, recreation administration, marketing, recreation equipment and grounds operations and maintenance, business finance, insurance and taxation, event management and guest services, personnel management, travel and logistics management, safety and health services, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific vacation types and locations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Resort Management program, a specialization within Hospitality Administration/Management, is designed for individuals interested in planning, managing, and marketing vacation facilities and services. This program provides a comprehensive understanding of the hospitality industry, focusing on the unique aspects of resort operations and guest services.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in hospitality administration, event management, and marketing, along with knowledge in areas such as facilities planning and personnel management. Coursework emphasizes practical applications in various vacation types and locations.
Credentials awarded
What Resort Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree132 graduates / yr · 6 institutions81%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year18 graduates / yr · 3 institutions11%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions5.5%
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.5%
Graduates over time
Resort Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 212 |
| 2013 | 361 |
| 2014 | 291 |
| 2015 | 303 |
| 2016 | 413 |
| 2017 | 369 |
| 2018 | 327 |
| 2019 | 345 |
| 2020 | 289 |
| 2021 | 209 |
| 2022 | 216 |
| 2023 | 188 |
| 2024 | 129 |
| 2025 | 163 |
Top 11 institutions for Resort Management, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FLPublicBachelor's | 47 | 57% | — | $39,108 |
| 2 | Bowling Green State University - Firelands Huron, OHPublicBachelor's | 32 | 11% | — | — |
| 3 | Coastal Carolina University Conway, SCPublicBachelor's | 32 | 48% | — | $34,300 |
| 4 | Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, COPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 27% | — | — |
| 5 | Vermont State University Randolph, VTPublicBachelor's | 12 | 47% | — | — |
| 6 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 60% | — | — |
| 7 | Fort Lewis College Durango, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 36% | — | — |
| 8 | SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NYPublicBachelor's | 5 | 28% | — | — |
| 9 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NYPublicBachelor's | 4 | 45% | — | $27,450 |
| 10 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 24% | — | $37,199 |
| 11 | College of the Desert Palm Desert, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 31% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Hospitality Administration/Management field (CIP 52.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Resort Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Hospitality Administration/Management programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1 | 47 | Florida Gulf Coast University47 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 32 | Bowling Green State University - Firelands32 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 32 | Coastal Carolina University32 / yr |
| Colorado | 2 | 19 | Colorado Mountain College12 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 12 | Vermont State University12 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 9 | SUNY Morrisville5 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 9 | Boise State University9 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Northampton County Area Community College2 / yr |
| California | 1 | 1 | College of the Desert1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9081, Lodging Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Resort Management program can pursue careers as Lodging Managers or in related fields such as Entertainment and Recreation Management. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth of 3.4% and approximately 5,400 annual openings. The median wage for lodging managers is $68,130, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0906
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lodging Managersprimary SOC 11-9081 | $69,250 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~5,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling SOC 11-9072 | $79,520 | +7.7% Faster than average | ~5,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Resort Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Answer inquiries pertaining to hotel policies and services, and resolve occupants' complaints.
- Participate in financial activities, such as the setting of room rates, the establishment of budgets, and the allocation of funds to departments.
- Confer and cooperate with other managers to ensure coordination of hotel activities.
- Greet and register guests.
- Monitor the revenue activity of the hotel or facility.
- Manage and maintain temporary or permanent lodging facilities.
Tools and technology used
Other Hospitality Administration/Management specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Hospitality Administration/Management (CIP 52.09).
- Hospitality Administration/CIP 52.0901
Management 7,736 graduates / yr369 institutions - Hotel/CIP 52.0904
Motel Administration/ Management 1,755 graduates / yr90 institutions - Tourism and Travel Services ManagementCIP 52.0903862 graduates / yr48 institutions
- Restaurant/CIP 52.0905
Food Services Management 783 graduates / yr45 institutions - Meeting and Event PlanningCIP 52.0907781 graduates / yr54 institutions
- Hospitality Administration/CIP 52.0999
Management 579 graduates / yr32 institutions - Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant ManagementCIP 52.0909445 graduates / yr52 institutions
- Casino ManagementCIP 52.0908partial data16 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Brewery/CIP 52.0910
Brewpub Operations/ Management limited data4 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What is the focus of the Resort Management program?+
The program focuses on planning, managing, and marketing vacation facilities and services.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in hospitality administration, event management, marketing, and personnel management.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Resort Management?+
You can become a Lodging Manager or work in Entertainment and Recreation Management.
What is the job outlook for graduates in this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.4% and 5,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Resort Management?+
Resort Management is CIP 52.0906 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Hospitality Administration/Management (CIP 52.09). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to plan, manage, and market comprehensive vacation facilities and services and related products. Includes instruction in hospitality administration, hotel/motel management, restaurant and food services management, facilities planning, leisure studies, recreation administration, marketing, recreation equipment and grounds operations and maintenance, business finance, insurance and taxation, event management and guest services, personnel management, travel and logistics management, safety and health services, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific vacation types and locations.
How many institutions offer Resort Management programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Resort Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 163 credentials in the year. That is 1.2% of all Hospitality Administration/Management graduates.
How much do Resort Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Lodging Managers occupation, which Resort Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $69,250 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Hospitality Administration/Management field report median earnings of $37,199 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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