Top Hospitality Management Degrees
The hospitality industry covers economic output related to hotels, restaurants, cruises, and more. The Business Research Company projects the hospitality sector’s global market size will grow to almost $5 trillion in 2024. Earning a hospitality management degree can help workers qualify for careers in this field.
The hospitality industry attracts workers with its large size, fast growth, and variety of jobs. Some roles require specialized skills, including accounting, marketing, and planning. Consequently, pursuing a degree in hospitality management can build these skills for aspiring professionals, giving graduates a competitive advantage when pursuing specific roles or advancement opportunities.
Prospective students who wish to pursue a degree or career in hospitality management can review this page to discover degree benefits, admission requirements, and career opportunities.
Best Hospitality Management Programs
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $216
Out-of-State | $721
Credits to Graduate: 120
Florida State University's hospitality and tourism management program from the Dedman College of Hospitality explores topics like food and beverage management, revenue management, and catering management. Each student must complete a 1,000-hour work experience in the hospitality industry and a field study in hospitality in the final semester of the program.
Hospitality and tourism management electives include classes like international wine and culture, psychology of customer experience, introduction to special events, and communication in hospitality. Potential careers for graduates include director of operations, hotel or restaurant manager, and cruise line director.
- In-State$5,616
- Out-of-state$18,746
- In-State$10,662
- Out-of-state$26,657
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate25%
- Students Enrolled44,134
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
- Laie, HI
- 4 year
- Campus
Cost per Credit:
Latter-day Saint | $268
Non-church members | $536
Credits to Graduate: 120
Brigham Young University-Hawaii's hospitality and tourism management bachelor of science degree focuses on best practices in the hospitality and tourism industry. Students learn to become servant-leaders who can solve business problems and provide excellent customer service.
The curriculum includes courses like food and beverage management, the economics of global tourism, leadership and talent development, and lodging operations. Electives explore topics like health tourism and innovative gastronomy. Graduates can apply for leadership and management jobs in tourism development agencies, hotels, and food service operations.
- In-State$6,068
- Out-of-state$6,068
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled2,893
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
University of South Florida
- Tampa, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $105
Out-of-State | $211
Credits to Graduate: 120
University of South Florida's BS in hospitality management from the Muma College of Business can prepare you to pursue leadership roles in the global hospitality industry. The 120-credit degree requires 1,000 hours of industry experience, including a 300-hour internship. Program partners include Aramark, Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt.
Required coursework includes an introduction to food production management, cost control in hospitality operations, human resources management, and management accounting and finance in the hospitality industry. Electives explore topics like beverage management and cruise line operations and management.
- In-State$4,559
- Out-of-state$15,473
- In-State$8,350
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate49%
- Students Enrolled49,708
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
San Diego State University
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Year:
In-State | $8,728
Out-of-State | $21,328
Credits to Graduate: 120
San Diego State University's hospitality and tourism management degree from the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is a business-focused degree that prepares students to pursue leadership roles in various management settings. The program requires 1,000 hours of hospitality-related professional experience before graduation.
Required courses include hospitality financial management, service leadership development, cross-cultural perspectives of tourism, and leadership and coaching in hospitality units. Potential career paths include hotel owner, brewery restaurant manager, casino manager, and wedding planner.
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$19,140
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate39%
- Students Enrolled36,591
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment64%
- AccreditationYes
Boston University
- Boston, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Year:
In-State | $66,670
Out-of-State | $66,670
Credits to Graduate: 128
Boston University's hospitality administration BS degree from the School of Hospitality Administration can prepare you for careers in hotel operations, food and beverage management, event management, or marketing. Each enrollee receives hands-on experience through two 400-hour supervised field placements. The program also requires an international or intercultural experience.
The curriculum covers classes like hospitality communications, financial accounting for the hospitality industry, talent and people strategies, and experiential marketing. Students can add concentrations in event management, hospitality real estate development, revenue management and analytics, and hospitality entrepreneurship.
- In-State$58,560
- Out-of-state$58,560
- In-State$58,560
- Out-of-state$58,560
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate14%
- Students Enrolled36,718
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment15%
- AccreditationYes
California State University-Long Beach
- Long Beach, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
Cost per Semester:
In-State | $2,871
Out-of-State | $2,871 + $396 per credit
Credits to Graduate: 120
California State University Long Beach's hospitality management BS degree from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences includes hands-on professional experiences and emphasizes values like sustainability, community, globalization, and forward-thinking.
The curriculum explores operations, technology applications, legal and ethical issues, and effective communication in the hospitality management industry. Students can participate in various hospitality management extracurricular activities, including student clubs, internships, and guest speaker events. The university reports that 2022-2023 program graduates experienced a 97% rate for professional placement or continuing education.
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate47%
- Students Enrolled40,190
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment87%
- AccreditationYes
University of Mississippi
- University, MS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $385
Out-of-State | $732
Credits to Graduate: 120
University of Mississippi's BS in hospitality management program offers study abroad opportunities, internships, and field trips to local businesses. Students can also get hands-on experience in the hospitality management field by working at the school's student-run restaurant, Lenoir Dining, or the Ole Miss Inn. The program requires 600 industry hours to graduate.
Students take courses like hospitality industry accounting, legal issues in the hospitality industry, food service procurement, and principles of hotel operations. Areas of emphasis include lodging, event management, and food service.
- In-State$9,072
- Out-of-state$26,292
- In-State$9,072
- Out-of-state$26,294
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled22,081
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
College of the Ozarks
- Point Lookout, MO
- 4 year
- Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $325
Out-of-State | $325
Credits to Graduate: 120-140
College of the Ozarks's hospitality management bachelor of science program provides hands-on learning experiences at the Keeter Center, a fine dining, lodging, and event center on campus. The program emphasizes hospitality management best practices, culinary excellence, and workplace and food service safety from a Christian perspective.
Required major courses include banquet and catering operations, managing conventions and group business, hospitality marketing, and a professional food service practicum. Each enrollee also must complete a five-credit hospitality industry internship. All students have their tuition covered through scholarships, grants, and a work program.
- In-State$19,500
- Out-of-state$19,500
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate21%
- Students Enrolled1,479
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentNot provided
- AccreditationYes
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Blacksburg, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Year:
In-State | $12,698
Out-of-State | $33,310
Credits to Graduate: 120
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's hospitality and tourism management program can prepare students for leadership careers in the tourism and global hospitality industries. Potential roles for graduates include cruise industry executive, tourism attraction entrepreneur, or meeting and convention sales.
The curriculum provides a broad business education and specialized courses in franchising, lodging operations, and tourism destination management. Students can get hands-on experience through internships and field studies. The program also offers frequent opportunities to interact with industry experts.
- In-State$11,751
- Out-of-state$30,829
- In-State$14,521
- Out-of-state$29,267
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate57%
- Students Enrolled38,365
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
St. Augustine College
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $537
Out-of-State | $537
Credits to Graduate: 120
St. Augustine College's BA in hospitality management degree from the College of Business can prepare you to pursue various roles in the hospitality industry, including restaurants, events, hotels, and entertainment. Students with associate degrees in fields like business or culinary arts can earn BAs in hospitality management quickly through the school's fast-track option.
The program covers hospitality principles, leadership, customer service, and human resources management and offers hands-on learning and work experiences, including a 500-hour senior-year internship. The curriculum includes classes like hospitality accounting, management information systems, and lodging in the hospitality industry.
- In-State$11,720
- Out-of-state$11,720
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled737
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment0%
- AccreditationYes
Why Get a Hospitality Management Bachelor’s Degree?
Job Stability: Hospitality has seen stable growth in the last few decades, COVID-19 impacts aside. Graduates of top hospitality management programs may stand out among peers. These individuals can pursue entry-level management jobs and careers at growing international corporations.- Versatile Skills: Hospitality management degrees teach a variety of skills, including accounting, sales, marketing, and leadership. These competencies have applications in a wide array of roles and industries.
- Diverse Career Paths: The hospitality industry spans an array of subfields, including hotel management, event planning, and international conferences. Gaining a foundation of hospitality management knowledge can help graduates pursue multiple kinds of jobs.
What to Expect From a Hospitality Management Degree
Hospitality management degree programs help prepare students for leadership roles in the field. Learners study topics like finance, operations, and human resources to understand how large corporations work internally and what they require to continue running.
Bachelor’s programs in hospitality management usually consist of 120 credits, which full-time learners can complete in four years. Some schools offer generalized degrees, while others offer concentration options so enrollees can specialize in subfields like gaming, event design, or human resource management. Programs may include hands-on experience like internships.
Applicants should ensure their prospective learning institution holds accreditation — acknowledgement from an accreditation agency that the school meets standards of academic excellence. In addition to institutional accreditation, hospitality management degrees can hold programmatic accreditation from agencies like the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. This designation verifies that a program’s curriculum adequately prepares graduates for careers in the field.
Degree, Concentration, and Format Options
Hospitality management degrees may come in bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) formats. BA programs usually focus more heavily on humanities concepts, while BS degrees typically emphasize technical concepts. In addition to programs called “hospitality management,” these degrees use names like:
- Hospitality and tourism management
- Hotel and restaurant management
- Food and hospitality management
- Hospitality and event management
- Hospitality and retail management
Some hospitality management degrees may specialize learners’ knowledge toward specific industry sectors. While researching programs, prospective students should ensure programs align with their career goals.
Schools may also offer accelerated bachelor’s/master’s combined programs that allow learners to earn two degrees more quickly — typically in five years. Often, these programs require learners to take graduate-level courses during their third or fourth years of study, and these classes often count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. These options can help students save time and money.
Admissions Process
Each hospitality management program maintains its own admission requirements. Often, students have to submit materials like:
- An online form with an application fee
- High school diploma or equivalent with official high school transcripts
- Admission essay
- ACT or SAT scores
Possible prerequisites include:
- Minimum 3.0 high school GPA
- Previous relevant work experience
All students must submit an application, usually through the school’s website or Common App. Common App provides a single application that learners can submit to over 1,000 cooperating schools.
Popular Hospitality Management Undergraduate Courses
Hospitality management curricula vary by school; prospective enrollees can investigate each program’s courses before applying. Learners usually take a combination of general education, major-specific, and elective courses. Attendees may complete a capstone project to synthesize their knowledge, tackling theoretical issues or working as consultants to solve real-world issues. We explore popular hospitality management courses below.
Introduction to Hospitality: This class explores the hospitality industry’s history, trends, and organizational structures. Enrollees learn about management, accounting, maintenance, and engineering. The course may also discuss potential career paths and strategies to help professionals succeed.- Hotel Operations: The hotel industry is a crucial piece of the hospitality sector. Consequently, many programs include a class dedicated to teaching the operations, finances, and management of hotels. Students learn about the various staff who run hotels, including front desk, housekeeping, and kitchen workers.
- Revenue Management: Revenue management courses discuss the importance of revenue maximization and forecasting. Attendees learn to utilize pricing, discounts, capacity management, and duration control to achieve revenue goals.
- Advanced Wines: Students pursuing food service specializations can take courses about wines of the world, learning about wine types and pairings as well as the history and geography of wine production. As these classes often include hands-on experience sampling wines, learners need to be of legal drinking age to enroll.
How Much Do Hospitality Management Bachelor’s Programs Cost?
The price of hospitality management degrees ranges widely. Some schools charge as low as $2,500 for annual tuition, while others charge more than $50,000 per year. Factors that impact tuition include public or private school status, institutional prestige, and student state residency. Attendees should also budget for additional costs like school fees, books, and the cost of living.
Learners can also help pay for their hospitality management degree with financial aid like:
- Scholarships: Awardees receive merit-, need-, or demographic-based funds that do not require repayment
- Fellowships: Like scholarships, fellowships do not require repayment
- Grants: Grants are often need-based and do not require repayment
- Loans: Public and private lenders offer student loans, which require repayment with interest
The links below provide additional information on student loans and scholarships.
Should You Get Your Degree Online?
Prospective hospitality management degree enrollees may consider online programs. Distance education degrees are usually more flexible than on-campus programs because they include asynchronous learning opportunities with no set meeting times. Attendees of the best online hospitality management programs can attend any program without moving across the country.
In contrast, on-campus programs also offer their own benefits, including the ability to more easily network with students, professors, and alumni. In-person degrees feature more rigid learning structures, which some learners may prefer. On-campus attendees can also participate in extracurriculars and student clubs. Regardless of degree type, both in-person and online programs provide high educational quality.
Hospitality Management Jobs and Salaries
Hospitality management bachelor’s degree-holders can pursue entry-level leadership roles in industries like lodging, restaurants, and event planning. Professionals may obtain new skills or strengthen existing ones as they gain work experience.
Individuals can also enroll in a master’s program to further specialize their knowledge and pursue more advanced roles, including hotel revenue manager, cruise director, and corporate controller.
We explore common hospitality management careers below.
Lodging Manager
Lodging managers work in hotels, motels, and resorts. They ensure that guests have a comfortable experience. Managers direct internal activities to keep the accommodation running smoothly and profitably. These professionals may have a variety of duties, including inspecting the building’s cleanliness, monitoring staff, and reviewing revenue.
- Job Outlook (2023-33): +10%
- 2023 Median Annual Salary: $65,360
Source: BLS
Food Service Manager
Food service managers oversee the routine operations of restaurants. Managers organize staff to optimize efficiency and ensure patrons promptly receive their orders. Restaurant managers may also hire staff, inspect equipment, and oversee food preparation.
- Job Outlook (2023-33): +2%
- 2023 Median Annual Salary: $63,060
Source: BLS
Event Planner
Event planners arrange weddings, conventions, and corporate events by choosing locations, handling logistics, and working with vendors. Planners discuss event details with customers, including budgets, food, and accommodation choices.
- Job Outlook (2023-33): +7%
- 2023 Median Annual Salary: $56,920
Source: BLS
Selecting the Right Undergraduate Program
Many schools across the U.S. offer programs in hospitality management, each with their own curriculum, concentrations, and flexibility level. Students should explore each program’s details to find degrees that match their needs. The list below covers important considerations when choosing a school.
- Program Length: Most bachelor’s programs require four years of full-time study, but schools may offer accelerated degrees that take less time. Some institutions offer combined bachelor’s/master’s programs that grant students two degrees in five years.
- Concentrations: The hospitality industry has many subfields. Applicants with specific career goals should ensure programs offer specializations or coursework that aligns with these aspirations.
- Partnerships: Investigate each program’s partnerships. Some schools may connect students with local organizations, including hotels and event planning companies, for internships and other hands-on opportunities.
- Alumni Network: Students can use alumni networks to make internship, job, and mentor connections. Active alumni groups may provide additional networking opportunities through online meetings and in-person events.
Common Questions About Hospitality Management Degrees
Like any field, hospitality management can prove challenging. Individuals who enjoy learning different subjects or obtaining versatile skills in accounting, management, and marketing may thrive in this field.
The tuition for a bachelor’s in hospitality management can range from $2,500 to $50,000 per year. Prospective learners should explore the cost of each program before applying.
Yes, multiple hospitality management degrees offer fully online programs. Classes may run asynchronously, allowing students to study and complete assignments at their own pace. Online programs provide the same degrees as their in-person counterparts.
Individuals with a passion for hospitality management may find a degree in the field worth the time and cost investments. Hospitality management professionals with a degree can often qualify for a wider array of careers, including advanced roles.
