16 answers
Alaina
Student
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Which degree is more lucrative for all fields: Communications or Hospitality?
Hi, there! I am interested in Wedding Planning and am already doing internships in the field. But I am also going to go to community college in the fall and wanted to know which education is most helpful, not just in Wedding Planning, but also anywhere else. Thanks!
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16 answers
Nic Frazer
Management Consultant
3
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Nic’s Answer
Hi - If wedding planning is the ultimate goal - you might want to consider an associates in business to learn financials and project planning from your local community college while apprenticing with a current wedding planner to gain on the job experience without breaking the bank.
Option A: College Degree - 160k debt at graduation, no experience.
Option B: Associates - Little to no debt at graduation, with experience / a portfolio to show future clients when you spin off your own business
Option A: College Degree - 160k debt at graduation, no experience.
Option B: Associates - Little to no debt at graduation, with experience / a portfolio to show future clients when you spin off your own business
Lisa Carey
Resource Manager
15
Answers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Hello! Hospitality is a great field, but I suggest studying communications too. Also, consider taking finance and critical thinking classes. These skills help you make good decisions and understand the importance of profit margins in hospitality. Internships are valuable for seeing what the industry is really like. Hospitality involves working with people and using skills in project management, sales, and business. Keep your options open and enjoy the journey!
Vijaya Bhandari
10
Answers
Updated
Vijaya’s Answer
Hi Alaina - Communication is more transferrable skills but finding a way to add hospitality elements in your courses would be helpful too for wedding planning. Also some project management courses i would think.
Julieann Parr LeVan
Cyber Security Consultant
3
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Julieann’s Answer
Hi Alaina,
I agree with the advice given! As a makeup artist in the wedding industry, I want to share some tips. It's great that you're doing internships with local wedding planners. This shows your motivation and willingness to learn. Always be ready to help and anticipate the needs of the bride, bridal party, and planner. Networking with other wedding vendors is key, and focusing on good customer service is essential for long-term success. Consider getting a business certificate. Check out the course outlines in communications and hospitality to find ones that align with your career goals.
I agree with the advice given! As a makeup artist in the wedding industry, I want to share some tips. It's great that you're doing internships with local wedding planners. This shows your motivation and willingness to learn. Always be ready to help and anticipate the needs of the bride, bridal party, and planner. Networking with other wedding vendors is key, and focusing on good customer service is essential for long-term success. Consider getting a business certificate. Check out the course outlines in communications and hospitality to find ones that align with your career goals.
R Ulises Mendoza
AI and Data Engineer
2
Answers
Long Beach, California
Updated
R Ulises’s Answer
Hi there!
Communications is usually the more flexible degree overall, while Hospitality is the more industry-specific degree for venue, hotel, and guest-experience roles. In recent data, media and communication occupations had a bigger annual income than common hospitality-related management roles. Additionally you need to account to the experience factor, you need to get industry or role experience where in communication it feels like a little bit bigger entry wall can be easy to scale up than in hospitality until getting management roles comparable with the comms income benefits.
Communications is usually the more flexible degree overall, while Hospitality is the more industry-specific degree for venue, hotel, and guest-experience roles. In recent data, media and communication occupations had a bigger annual income than common hospitality-related management roles. Additionally you need to account to the experience factor, you need to get industry or role experience where in communication it feels like a little bit bigger entry wall can be easy to scale up than in hospitality until getting management roles comparable with the comms income benefits.
Grace Huckabay
Consultant for State, Local, and Higher Education projects
32
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Grace’s Answer
Hi Alaina! I suggest majoring in Communications because the skills you learn can apply to almost any job. I really like your idea of becoming a wedding planner. You could major in Communications and minor or get a certificate in Hospitality to focus on that area. This way, you gain a mix of both skills. Good luck!
Cameron Vorhies
Business Development Representative
4
Answers
Santa Monica, California
Updated
Cameron ’s Answer
Hey there! If your interest is wedding planning, which sounds so exciting, I would reccomend majoring in Business with a Minor in Communications.
Having the business background will allow you to branch out should you decide to start your own wedding planning business and the communications background can help you to learn about the best way to create your overall brand.
Congrats again on finding something you are passionate about - that is the first step and truly be the most challenging.
Having the business background will allow you to branch out should you decide to start your own wedding planning business and the communications background can help you to learn about the best way to create your overall brand.
Congrats again on finding something you are passionate about - that is the first step and truly be the most challenging.
Josh Spiegel
Communications Consultant
5
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Gaining a degree in Communications can be beneficial and perhaps more practical because of the flexibility built into such a broad scope of work; you don't need to feel hemmed into a certain field by getting this degree. That said, if your true passion is wedding planning, getting a degree in Hospitality (as well as continuing on the path of internships that you've already begun) may be the best move because it will align with the interests you're already pursuing.
Anthony Saunders
Supply Chain Consultant
3
Answers
Conroe, Texas
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Hi Alaina,
I would say unless its a hard choice between these two degrees, don't limit your options to just these two. There are plenty of other degrees that have higher average salaries or career flexibility beyond wedding planning that you can still use for wedding planning.
For example, one of my good friends got her degree in Management (which was a bachelors of business administration). After graduating college she became the venue manager of wedding venue, and since then she has pivoted to doing event planning for the medical school of a university.
Hope this helps!
I would say unless its a hard choice between these two degrees, don't limit your options to just these two. There are plenty of other degrees that have higher average salaries or career flexibility beyond wedding planning that you can still use for wedding planning.
For example, one of my good friends got her degree in Management (which was a bachelors of business administration). After graduating college she became the venue manager of wedding venue, and since then she has pivoted to doing event planning for the medical school of a university.
Hope this helps!
Emma Dewdney
Senior Manager - Tech Support
3
Answers
Lincoln, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Emma’s Answer
Hey, great question! It's awesome that you're thinking beyond just wedding planning.
Between the two, a Communications degree might be more flexible if you want to keep your options open. The skills you learn, like writing, public relations, media, marketing, storytelling, and professional communication, are useful in many fields, from corporate jobs to running your own business.
Hospitality is fantastic for wedding planning, covering event management, client experience, and business operations. However, it might feel more specific if you decide to explore careers beyond events or hospitality.
For wedding planning, both degrees can be helpful. Many successful wedding planners have a hospitality background because the event management courses are directly relevant. But if you're gaining hands-on experience through internships, which is incredibly valuable, a Communications degree could offer a broader foundation.
Here's my suggestion: Since you're at community college, try to find a program that combines both fields, or choose electives in event management, marketing, and business basics, no matter which degree you choose. Your internship experience, along with a solid degree in Communications or Hospitality, will prepare you well.
You're already on the right track by gaining real experience early on—it matters more than most people realize!
Between the two, a Communications degree might be more flexible if you want to keep your options open. The skills you learn, like writing, public relations, media, marketing, storytelling, and professional communication, are useful in many fields, from corporate jobs to running your own business.
Hospitality is fantastic for wedding planning, covering event management, client experience, and business operations. However, it might feel more specific if you decide to explore careers beyond events or hospitality.
For wedding planning, both degrees can be helpful. Many successful wedding planners have a hospitality background because the event management courses are directly relevant. But if you're gaining hands-on experience through internships, which is incredibly valuable, a Communications degree could offer a broader foundation.
Here's my suggestion: Since you're at community college, try to find a program that combines both fields, or choose electives in event management, marketing, and business basics, no matter which degree you choose. Your internship experience, along with a solid degree in Communications or Hospitality, will prepare you well.
You're already on the right track by gaining real experience early on—it matters more than most people realize!
Erik Smolders
Treasury Consultant
6
Answers
Ladera Ranch, California
Updated
Erik’s Answer
If your interest is wedding planning, I would continue the internships, but building a broader knowledge base for yourself is also crucial. Consider areas where you feel good in, and communications and hospitality are great areas, being adjacent to the wedding planning area. TRy to broaden your scope so that you are not stuck in a niche field during your professional career,
Juliannah Adeoye, MBA, PMP
Consultant
2
Answers
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Updated
Juliannah’s Answer
Pursuing a communications major is a great choice for keeping your career options open and stable. It can lead to new opportunities if you ever want to switch from wedding planning. I'm an IT consultant, and I also enjoy event planning and design in my free time. I've learned a lot from experience and mentorship, just like you are doing now! If you choose to continue with wedding planning over the years, there are also certificates and courses available to boost your credentials. Keep up the great work!
Stephen LaRussa
Senior Manager, Risk Management
6
Answers
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
Hi there! It's great that you're already thinking carefully about your career path and gaining experience through internships. Both communications and hospitality can lead to rewarding careers. Since you're interested in wedding planning, hospitality may provide a strong foundation because it teaches skills such a problem-solving and relationship management. Communications can be equally as valuable, helping you to develop skills in marketing, client communications, storytelling and networking. Having spent may years in the hospitality industry myself, I can tell you those skills translate well across many industries.
Most importantly, don't feel like this decision will lock you into one path forever. The experience you gain, the relationships you build, and your willingness to keep learning will often matter more than the specific degree you choose. Keep exploring you interests and building on the experience you're already gaining. You're off to a great start, and I wish you the very best as you move forward!
Most importantly, don't feel like this decision will lock you into one path forever. The experience you gain, the relationships you build, and your willingness to keep learning will often matter more than the specific degree you choose. Keep exploring you interests and building on the experience you're already gaining. You're off to a great start, and I wish you the very best as you move forward!
Dana Norvell
Senior One Team Ambassador
7
Answers
Memphis, Tennessee
Updated
Dana’s Answer
Hi Alaina,
If you’re trying to choose the degree that gives you the best overall value, communications is usually the smarter long-term choice. It is one of the most flexible degrees you can have because it builds skills employers need in almost every field — writing, public speaking, teamwork, marketing, client relations, and problem-solving. That means even if you do not stay in wedding planning forever, you can still use it in business, PR, social media, sales, nonprofit work, or management.
Hospitality is a strong choice too, especially if you want to work directly in events, hotels, or wedding planning, but it is more specialized. Since you already have internships in wedding planning, you are getting the industry experience that matters most in that field. So if your goal is both stability and options, communications gives you a broader safety net while your internships give you the real-world experience to keep pursuing weddings. In other words: communications gives you range, and your internships give you direction.
If you’re trying to choose the degree that gives you the best overall value, communications is usually the smarter long-term choice. It is one of the most flexible degrees you can have because it builds skills employers need in almost every field — writing, public speaking, teamwork, marketing, client relations, and problem-solving. That means even if you do not stay in wedding planning forever, you can still use it in business, PR, social media, sales, nonprofit work, or management.
Hospitality is a strong choice too, especially if you want to work directly in events, hotels, or wedding planning, but it is more specialized. Since you already have internships in wedding planning, you are getting the industry experience that matters most in that field. So if your goal is both stability and options, communications gives you a broader safety net while your internships give you the real-world experience to keep pursuing weddings. In other words: communications gives you range, and your internships give you direction.
Justin Broyles
Consultant
12
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Justin’s Answer
For all industries, I would definitely recommend Communications! Almost every industry or organization needs communications professionals. You will be able to take that degree/experience and apply to to so many different areas. As someone who just got married and used a wedding planner as well, communication was such a crucial aspect of planning and I think any additional experience or knowledge you can gain in that space would help you flourish in that field
Sanjit Kumar Sutradhar
Software professional
5
Answers
Apex, North Carolina
Updated
Sanjit Kumar’s Answer
If you mean overall earning potential across most careers, Communications is generally more lucrative than Hospitality. Media and communication occupations had a median annual wage of about $70,300 in 2024, while many hospitality roles sit much lower; for example, food and beverage workers had a median hourly wage of $14.92, and hosts and hostesses earned around $29,220 median annually. 1 2 3
That said, Hospitality usually offers more job openings, especially in food service and travel-related roles, so it can be easier to enter quickly even if the average pay is lower. About 104,800 openings per year are projected in media and communication occupations, versus roughly 1.16 million openings per year for food and beverage serving roles. 1 2
My recommendation: if your priority is salary and long-term earning growth, choose Communications; if your priority is faster entry into a large job market, Hospitality can still work, but it is usually less lucrative overall. A practical middle ground is to choose the degree based on fit, then specialize in higher-value tracks like digital marketing, PR, analytics, hotel revenue management, or luxury brand operations, where pay can improve meaningfully.
That said, Hospitality usually offers more job openings, especially in food service and travel-related roles, so it can be easier to enter quickly even if the average pay is lower. About 104,800 openings per year are projected in media and communication occupations, versus roughly 1.16 million openings per year for food and beverage serving roles. 1 2
My recommendation: if your priority is salary and long-term earning growth, choose Communications; if your priority is faster entry into a large job market, Hospitality can still work, but it is usually less lucrative overall. A practical middle ground is to choose the degree based on fit, then specialize in higher-value tracks like digital marketing, PR, analytics, hotel revenue management, or luxury brand operations, where pay can improve meaningfully.