by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, meeting and event planning was the 522nd most popular major nationwide with 989 degrees awarded. This represents a 1.2% increase in meeting and event planning degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 977.
Our 2023 Best Meeting and Event Planning Schools ranking analyzes 23 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for meeting and event planning students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of meeting and event planning programs later in this article.
Meeting and Event Planning majors are found most commonly in careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is important. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
meeting and event planning degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific meeting and event planning careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of meeting and event planning degrees. Meeting and Event Planning programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest meeting and event planning degree you can get. Meeting and Event Planning programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to meeting and event planning, with approximately 40.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for meeting and event planning workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 40.8% |
| Some College Courses | 37.2% |
| High School Diploma | 7.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.6% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in meeting and event planning have received.
The education level required is different depending on the meeting and event planning career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your meeting and event planning degree? Meeting and Event Planning careers are expected to grow 10.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to meeting and event planning.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | 129,400 | 10.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for meeting and event planning graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for meeting and event planning graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers meeting and event planning grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $53,730 |
With over 89 different meeting and event planning degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased meeting and event planning school rankings to help you with this.
Meeting and Event Planning is one of 9 different types of Hospitality Management programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Hospitality Administration/Management | 10,606 |
| Hotel/Motel Administration/Management | 2,368 |
| Tourism and Travel Services Management | 1,303 |
| Restaurant/Food Services Management | 944 |
| Other Hospitality Administration/Management | 772 |
