Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
CIP Code: 31.0302A golf course operation and grounds management degree prepares graduates for careers in Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling, First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers, Landscaping and groundskeeping workers. 8 colleges and universities offer this program.
Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management Salary by College
Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $50,468 four years after graduating (middle half: $37,507–$64,333). Where you study it matters: across 55 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $37,436 to $64,497.
Sort by:
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | 1 yr after | Median debt | Outcome Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL | $64,497 | $68,649 | $41,046 | $16,172 | A |
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | $64,497 | $68,649 | $41,046 | $16,172 | A+ |
| 3 | St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, NY | $59,616 | $56,742 | $36,847 | $20,000 | B |
| 4 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH | $59,537 | $54,840 | $38,201 | $27,000 | B |
| 7 | Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, RI | $56,241 | $55,392 | $30,963 | $26,100 | F |
| 6 | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | $56,241 | $60,355 | $30,963 | $26,100 | B |
| 5 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI | $56,241 | $55,392 | $30,963 | $26,100 | F |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA | $55,741 | $56,689 | $35,132 | $23,000 | C+ |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $55,741 | $56,689 | $35,132 | $23,000 | A |
| 10 | Illinois State University Normal, IL | $55,032 | $54,069 | $39,104 | $19,236 | B |
| 11 | University of North Texas Denton, TX | $54,621 | $55,534 | $36,857 | $23,000 | C+ |
| 12 | Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN | $54,532 | $52,090 | $36,220 | $25,500 | C |
| 13 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN | $54,302 | $51,870 | — | $21,500 | C |
| 14 | Kean University Union, NJ | $54,232 | $47,599 | $37,884 | $27,000 | D |
| 15 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT | $53,522 | $48,187 | $46,274 | $24,931 | D |
| 16 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | $52,971 | $49,538 | $33,161 | $19,250 | C+ |
| 17 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA | $52,571 | $53,465 | $35,280 | — | C |
| 18 | Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD | $52,488 | $46,064 | $25,345 | $21,250 | D |
| 19 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO | $52,363 | $48,970 | $35,308 | $23,875 | D |
| 20 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | $52,233 | $56,053 | $38,116 | $19,000 | A |
| 21 | The University of Montana Missoula, MT | $51,426 | $56,175 | — | — | D |
| 22 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA | $51,233 | $46,652 | $34,040 | $24,750 | D |
| 23 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA | $51,206 | $47,099 | — | $20,134 | C |
| 24 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA | $51,012 | $51,880 | $33,955 | $24,500 | C+ |
| 25 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, OK | $50,937 | $57,190 | $38,506 | $16,500 | D |
| 26 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | $50,522 | $52,450 | $37,083 | $21,500 | B |
| 27 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC | $50,241 | $53,916 | $31,873 | $20,125 | B |
| 28 | University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA | $49,799 | $51,552 | $31,492 | $25,000 | D |
| 29 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN | $49,623 | $53,236 | $34,084 | $24,622 | D |
| 30 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL | $49,424 | $48,559 | $35,425 | $21,500 | D |
| 31 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | $49,377 | $52,062 | $35,343 | $23,250 | A |
| 32 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR | $49,034 | $57,782 | $35,073 | $23,726 | B+ |
| 33 | Clemson University Clemson, SC | $48,898 | $54,220 | $32,992 | $19,500 | A+ |
| 34 | Florida International University Miami, FL | $48,814 | $51,956 | $29,862 | $17,750 | B+ |
| 35 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO | $48,600 | $52,109 | $36,247 | $24,346 | C |
| 36 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD | $48,319 | $52,010 | $38,076 | $25,000 | B |
| 37 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | $48,260 | $51,367 | — | — | A |
| 38 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC | $48,070 | $51,586 | — | — | C |
| 39 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX | $47,752 | $48,550 | $32,620 | $21,500 | C+ |
| 40 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph, MO | $47,177 | $50,584 | — | — | F |
| 41 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | $46,796 | $51,120 | $30,350 | $25,500 | C |
| 42 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL | $46,363 | $45,551 | $28,978 | $27,000 | C |
| 43 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI | $44,710 | $46,523 | $34,490 | $21,666 | B+ |
| 44 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA | $44,304 | $45,058 | $32,065 | $26,000 | C+ |
| 45 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH | $43,686 | $46,620 | $31,422 | $19,500 | D |
| 46 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA | $43,480 | $39,992 | $28,140 | $22,883 | C+ |
| 47 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY | $42,600 | $48,236 | $32,267 | $24,867 | D |
| 48 | North Carolina Central University Durham, NC | $42,426 | $45,529 | $28,863 | $30,434 | F |
| 49 | Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID | $41,946 | $44,604 | $27,961 | $12,421 | A |
| 50 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY | $41,877 | $47,417 | $30,330 | $25,000 | C+ |
| 51 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC | $41,786 | $44,842 | $30,485 | $21,415 | C |
| 52 | SUNY Brockport Brockport, NY | $41,547 | $39,544 | $30,388 | $19,559 | C |
| 53 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC | $41,052 | $44,055 | $29,646 | $19,500 | C+ |
| 54 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | $38,649 | $45,724 | — | — | B+ |
| 55 | Lindsey Wilson College Columbia, KY | $37,436 | $42,389 | — | — | F |
Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.
What Can You Do With a Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management Degree?
Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:
Best Colleges for Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in golf course operation and grounds management.
| # | College | Location | Degrees Awarded | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 69 | C |
| 2 | Professional Golfers Career College | Temecula, CA | 56 | D |
Largest Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management Programs
Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most golf course operation and grounds management graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.
| # | College | Location | Degrees Awarded | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 69 | C |
| 2 | Professional Golfers Career College | Temecula, CA | 56 | D |
About Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management is a degree program offered at 8 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 161 students graduate with this degree.
Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling, first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers.