Hospitality Management Degree in Chattanooga, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Hospitality Management degree analysis for Chattanooga, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Chattanooga
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Hospitality Management in Chattanooga, TN Overview
While Chattanooga has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Hospitality Management students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,210/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Hospitality Management enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Guest Relations and Revenue Management. The adjusted starting salary in Chattanooga is approximately $40,000.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,648/yr
Private Tuition
$39,466/yr
Room & Board
$12,210/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,310/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Hospitality Management Salary in Chattanooga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Hospitality Management salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Chattanooga adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Hospitality Management ROI Calculator for Chattanooga
Estimate your return on investment for a Hospitality Management degree using local Chattanooga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,648 | Private avg: $39,466
Chattanooga avg aid: $9,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Chattanooga
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chattanooga
$232,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($320,000) minus total education cost ($87,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Hospitality Management in Chattanooga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chattanooga for Hospitality Management
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
public
$9,648/yr
$38,592 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chattanooga State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Hospitality Management in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Hospitality Management graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chattanooga Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Hospitality Management Job Titles
Hospitality Management in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Business Majors in Chattanooga
Business Analytics
$62K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Hospitality Management Degree in Chattanooga — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Hospitality Management ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chattanooga.