The Best Online Bachelor in Hospitality Management Degree Programs

1. Florida International University

Miami, Florida

Built atop a former airfield, Florida International University opened its doors to more than 5,600 students in 1972. FIU now provides nearly 200 academic programs through 10 colleges and schools. FIU currently offers classes from its main campus in West Miami–Dade, Florida, at a Biscayne Bay location, at educational centers in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and online.

Offered through the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at FIU includes 120 credits. Students complete 60 credits of core curriculum classes alongside 60 credits of major coursework. The hospitality management curriculum integrates 36 credits of foundational classes, 12 concentration credits, and 12 credits of elective coursework.

Hospitality core classes emphasize basic economics, communication, and hospitality information technology skills. The program also includes an internship during which students work alongside a professional in hospitality management or tourism for 500 work–hours. FIU’s hospitality management program allows students to specialize in beverage management, hotel and lodging management, or culinary and restaurant management. Additional degree concentrations include event management and travel and tourism management.

Students in the bachelor of science in hospitality management can also complete a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program through an accelerated format. To qualify, learners must complete 75–90 credits of undergraduate coursework with minimum 3.2 GPA.

2. University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Located in Salt Lake City, the University of Utah serves as the flagship university for the Beehive State. Established as the University of Deseret in 1850, The U adopted its current moniker in 1892. The U offers nearly 200 academic programs to over 31,000 learners each year.

The online bachelor of science in parks, recreation, and tourism at The U emphasizes sustainable tourism and hospitality management through 120 credits of coursework. The degree prepares students to work within the tourism and hospitality industry while paying attention to cultural, environmental, and ethical implications of the field. As part of the program, students can also earn a hospitality operations certificate from the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes 66 credits of major coursework. Learners complete 42 credits of classes in parks, recreation, and tourism. Courses include recreation programming and leadership; computer applications in parks; and recreation, tourism, and wilderness recreation. Additional coursework in professional preparation, management, and finance accompany an internship requirement.

The program also includes nine credits of core sustainable hospitality and hospitality management classes. Students study sustainable tourism and protected area management, electronic marketing, and foundations of hospitality and tourism.

Learners choose an additional elective area, completing 15 credits of classes in one of three subsets of the field: sustainable tourism management, hospitality management, or tourism enterprise and marketing. The program delivers all coursework asynchronously.

3. The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

As the oldest public university in Alabama, the University of Alabama traces its origins back to 1818. Based in Tuscaloosa, UA opened its doors in 1831 and currently offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through 13 academic divisions. UA serves as the flagship institution within the University of Alabama System, cooperating with campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville, and online to serve 70,000 learners each year.

UA offers an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management to prepare students for careers in the hotel and resort industry, convention sales and services, and foodservice management and catering. The 120–credit degree incorporates 50 credits of general education coursework alongside 49 credits of hospitality management classes and 21 elective credits.

Learners complete required hospitality management courses, such as hospitality employee supervision, basic accounting in the hospitality industry, and hospitality management. Classes in hospitality law, hotel sales, and event services accompany advanced coursework in managerial accounting, information systems, and quality management. The program also includes an internship during which students work in an approved hospitality organization for a minimum of 600 hours.

Students can concentrate their degree in one of three areas. The food and beverage management concentration emphasizes restaurant management and service, catering operations, and food and beverage controls. The hotel and lodging specialization focuses on issues in hotel and lodging management, convention management, and hospitality marketing. The meetings and events concentration includes classes in event marketing, convention trade show management, and convention services.

4. University of Massachusetts – Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Founded as an agricultural college in 1863, the University of Massachusetts Amherst first offered classes in 1867. UMass Amherst has since become the flagship institution for the UMass System, working alongside four additional public institutions to serve 73,000 students each year.

Offered through UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, the online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management comprises 120 credits. Learners complete general education classes alongside business core coursework in accounting, finance, marketing, and statistics. Business classes in strategic planning in the hotel industry and managerial communications instill fundamental competencies directly related to the hospitality and tourism industry.

The curriculum incorporates 14 required classes in hospitality and tourism management. Hospitality and management classes introduce learners to managerial principles and practices in lodging operations, foodservice, restaurant operations, and the service industry. Students also study hospitality and tourism law, human resource communication, and financial decision making.

Additional hospitality and tourism courses in gaming and social policy, club management, and special event management allow learners to explore aspects of the industry applicable to their personal and professional goals. Many classes include integrated projects and simulated business experiences to prepare learners for their future careers. The curriculum also includes a practicum experience through 400 work hours at an approved hospitality and tourism management location.

5. University of South Carolina – Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

Initially known as South Carolina College, the University of South Carolina was chartered in 1801. Located on a horseshoe campus in Columbia, South Carolina, UofSC closed its doors during the Civil War, reopening in 1866. Currently, UofSC hosts nearly 35,000 students at its main campus while serving the flagship institution within the University of South Carolina System.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at UofSC trains students for careers in hotel management, food service, and the general tourism industry. Learners complete 120 credits, including 57 credits of major coursework. Core classes introduce students to the history, growth, and future of the hospitality management field. Learners also complete classes in tourism to understand the economic and social relationships between tourism, tourists, and the hospitality industry.

Students also study club management; hotel, restaurant, and travel law; and hospitality marketing in anticipation of practicum and internship requirements. During the practicum, students work in an approved location under the supervision of a hospitality professional. The internship includes 400 hours of work in a supervisory role.

Applicants to the online bachelor’s in hospitality management must have already completed 45–60 college credits to apply. Full–time students complete the program in two years.

6. Madonna University

Livonia, Michigan

Located in Livonia, Michigan, Madonna University offers academic programs at additional locations in Gaylord, Dearborn, Macomb, and online. Founded as a Catholic and Franciscan institution in 1937, MU embraces the mission and heritage of the Felician Sisters by empowering intellectual and spiritual leaders.

MU’s online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management prepares students to work in hotel, restaurant, and event management while building knowledge and skills needed for guest service and entertainment careers. Learners complete 120 credits, including 40 credits of major coursework.

Students study consumer behavior, merchandising for brand management, and visual merchandising with additional classes in facility design and hospitality architecture. Two courses in lodging management provide advanced insights into operations and problem solving in the lodging industry.

MU’s program also includes classes in travel and tourism, meeting and event management, and club management to prepare students for a required internship. During that supervised internship, students work in a hospitality organization to gain practical experience in the field.

As a participant in the Michigan Transfer Agreement, MU allows applicants to transfer in core courses taken at one of Michigan’s community colleges. MU also awards up to 60 credits toward bachelor’s degrees for military experience.

7. East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina

Enrolling over 27,000 learners, East Carolina University serves as the fourth largest institution of higher education in North Carolina. ECU was founded in 1907 in Greenville, North Carolina, as a teacher training school. ECU now offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through 14 schools and colleges.

Through ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership, distance learners can earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management with one of three specializations: special events management, food and beverage management, or lodging management.

All students complete 124 credits, including general education, core classes, and 15 credits of concentration coursework. Foundational hospitality and management courses introduce students to principles and practices of hospitality services, multicultural hospitality, and hospitality law. Students also study finance, human resources, and marketing. Learners complete an externship during their sophomore year and an internship during the final year of the program. The internship takes place in a hospitality setting related to their degree specialty.

Students in the special events management concentration focus on producing meetings and events. The food and beverage management concentration emphasizes wine and beverage management and advanced food production management strategies. The lodging management track also includes classes in food production and service management with additional studies in lodging revenue management.

8. University of Missouri

Columbia, Missouri

The first public university founded west of the Mississippi, the University of Missouri opened in 1839 and currently serves as the flagship institution within the University of Missouri System. Mizzou offers more than 300 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges from its main campus in Columbia, Missouri, and online.

Mizzou offers an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. The program comprises 120 credits, with most transfer students needing 70 credits to complete the degree. Mizzou offers tuition discounts for community college graduates, veterans, military service members, and their dependents.

Coursework in Mizzou’s online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management covers sales and marketing, human resource management, and hospitality law. Students complete 15 credits of core business classes alongside 22 credits of core hospitality management coursework. Hospitality management coursework emphasizes professional development and strategic management in the hospitality industry.

Learners also choose a specialization and complete 30 credits within a subset of the field. Concentration areas include conference and events management, food and beverage management, lodging management, and sport venue management. Some specialty classes include on–campus requirements. Before graduating, students work in an approved hospitality setting to gain practical experience. Learners submit journals, papers, and a project to meet internship requirements.

Applicants to Mizzou’s online hospitality management degree submit ACT or SAT scores and high school transcripts for consideration. Transfer students need a minimum 2.5 GPA from previous college coursework.

9. Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

From its main campus in Pullman, Washington State University proudly serves as Washington’s original land–grant institution. WSU provides learners with nearly 250 different undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. WSU also offers 12 undergraduate and nine graduate programs online.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at WSU builds knowledge and skills applicable to careers at hotels, restaurants, sports and convention centers, and other tourism sites. The 120–credit curriculum includes 27 credits of business classes. Students study principles of management, marketing, business research case studies, and financial management. Students also learn about service operations management, personnel and human resources, and operational analysis. WSU delivers all coursework asynchronously.

As part of the curriculum, learners complete a full–time, paid internship. During 1,000 work hours, students gain practical experience while building networks within the field. The hospitality relations manager at WSU coordinates with students and employers to facilitate internship and career placement.

An additional international experience requirement prepares students to work in the global marketplace. To fulfill the requirement, students participate in a study abroad option, complete an international internship, or take approved classes.

10. Missouri State University

Springfield, Missouri

Once known as Southwest Missouri State University, Missouri State University began as a normal school in 1905. MSU occupies a main campus in Springfield and operates a two–year campus in West Plains. MSU offers nearly 200 educational programs through 10 academic divisions, boasting more than 23,000 students annually.

Catering to students who hold an associate of applied science in hospitality management or culinary arts, the online bachelor of applied science in hospitality leadership includes 120 credits. Students complete introductory classes in hospitality leadership, lodging management, safety and sanitation, and food preparation to gain knowledge and skills in decision making, problem solving, and communication in hospitality settings. The curriculum also emphasizes accounting and marketing fundamentals.

Core classes include analyzing financial performance in hospitality operations, hospitality law, and hospitality human resource development. Learners choose 12 credits of elective coursework in anticipation of a capstone experience. Elective classes allow students to focus on aspects of hospitality management and leadership, such as casino operations, international hospitality, beverage operations, and destination development.

The hospitality leadership internship serves as a capstone course. Over 750 hours, students work in at least three different hospitality positions. The internship is paid and supervised as a cooperative learning experience. An additional capstone option includes an advanced hospitality leadership study where learners research and investigate leadership principles and practices in the field.

11. Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, New Mexico

Based in Portales, New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University holds membership in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and serves as a Hispanic–speaking institution. With additional campuses in Roswell, Ruidoso, and online, ENMU is the largest comprehensive university in New Mexico. ENMU offers more than 60 academic programs, including an online bachelor of business administration with an emphasis in hospitality management.

As one of six concentrations within the business administration bachelor’s degree, the hospitality management curriculum trains students to work with people and organizations in hospitality settings. The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management prepares students for careers in hotel, tourism, event, and casino brand management.

Students complete general education coursework alongside business foundation classes in finance, accounting, economics, and management. Business core requirements include 21 credits of courses in production and operations management, managerial finance, organizational behavior, and marketing management. Students also study business research and analysis before completing a business strategy and policy capstone course.

Nineteen credits of hospitality management classes emphasize convention and event management, hotel and club management, and services marketing. The curriculum includes a course in ServSafe, a food and beverage training and certificate program overseen by the National Restaurant Association. Courses in food operations management and tourism development accompany an internship requirement.

ENMU participates in several 2+2 partnerships with community colleges in New Mexico to cater to transfer students. Distance learners at ENMU benefit from online counseling, writing, and tutoring services.

12. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, New York

Originally an agricultural school, SUNY Delhi became part of the State University of New York system in 1913. Located in Delhi, New York, SUNY Delhi sits on over 625 acres in the Catskill Mountains. With over 60 undergraduate programs, SUNY Delhi serves more than 3,200 learners each year.

SUNY Delhi offers three online bachelor’s degrees in hospitality management. Learners can complete online degrees in culinary arts management, event management, or hotel and restaurant management.

The culinary arts management curriculum includes 122 credits. Students typically graduate in four years. Catering to learners with an associate degree in culinary arts, coursework includes food and beverage cost controls, classical cuisine, food and culture, and professional baking. Students also complete business classes in management, accounting, and finance alongside a culinary 480–hour internship at an approved site.

The event management program at SUNY Delhi incorporates 124 credits of coursework in business communication, managerial accounting, and hospitality management, focusing on hospitality events like weddings, conventions, banquets, and professional meetings. Students participate in a 320–hour professional experience at an approved location. They also have the opportunity to work at Disney World as part of the Walt Disney College Program.

The online hotel and restaurant management program emphasizes lodging, hospitality marketing, and food and service fundamentals through 121 credits of coursework. Students can also complete a practical education experience requirement through the Walt Disney College Program.

All three of the hospitality–related programs at SUNY Delhi require an associate degree from an accredited institution for admission. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA from previous college coursework.

13. Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

With over 15,000 students, Fort Hays State University began as an agricultural branch of the Kansas State Normal School in 1902. Initially, located at Fort Hays, a former military site, FHSU now sits on 200 acres in Hays, Kansas, and provides academic programs through five colleges.

FHSU’s online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes 120 credits. Students complete 55 credits of general education classes with required courses in personal finance, statistics, and economics. Twenty–four credits of business core classes emphasize business communication, business law, management principles, and accounting. Learners also study human resource management, marketing, and web development.

Core tourism and hospitality management classes focus on principles and practices in the industry. Coursework in service operations management, management information systems, and tourism and hospitality marketing accompany classes in international hospitality and leadership concepts. Students also participate in a tourism and hospitality industry internship.

FHSU’s online tourism and hospitality management degree includes three specialization options. The hospitality operations concentration incorporates courses on casino, hotel and resort, and food and beverage management. Events management students take classes in catering and special events, facilities management and space design, and hospitality and convention sales. The health and wellness tourism operations concentration trains learners in spa facility and destination management and medical tourism.

FHSU participates in the Midwest Student Exchange and the Contiguous State programs, offering discounted tuition to students in designated states. Out–of–state scholarship options for learners from Arizona, Iowa, Texas, and Wyoming also provide financial assistance.

14. California State University – East Bay

Hayward, California

One of 23 institutions in the California State University System, California State University East Bay offers nearly 200 academic programs. Established as a state college in 1957, Cal State East Bay hosts nearly 15,000 learners on its main campus in Hayward, at satellite locations in Oakland and Concord, and online.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at Cal State East Bay prepares students for entry–level and supervisory positions in food service, lodging, event management, and tourism organizations. Students complete 23 credits of foundational hospitality coursework with concentration classes in one of three focus areas.

Core coursework includes marketing; finance; and leadership in hospitality, recreation, and tourism. Students also explore more specific topics like working with diverse populations in industry settings.

Learners can specialize in event planning and management through classes in wedding planning, business communication, and the philosophy of leisure. The food and beverage concentration incorporates courses in food and culture; introduction to wine, beer, and spirits; and menu planning, cost control, and purchasing. The lodging, club, and resort concentration builds advanced skills applicable to lodging management roles.

All hospitality, recreation, and tourism majors complete 1,000 hours of field experience. During the final two semesters of the program, learners participate in a supervised internship that includes at least 600 hours. Prior to taking the internship class, learners complete a preparation course to facilitate placement.

15. University of Wisconsin – Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin Stout was founded in 1891 and functions within the University of Wisconsin System. Named for James Huff Stout, a former state senator, UW–Stout offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate programs through three academic colleges.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at UW–Stout includes 30 credits of operations management coursework, 21 credits of classes in financial and revenue management, and 15 credits of organizational management courses. Students also complete two cooperative education internships and 12 credits of elective coursework.

Operations management classes, such as lodging systems, hospitality facilities management, and customer service management, prepare students to work within hospitality organizations in multiple contexts. Financial courses in sales, marketing, and accounting build knowledge and skills applicable to budgeting and cost control.

Throughout the program, students also build organizational management skills that they apply during cooperative education experiences. Elective classes, such as turf management for golf courses, resort planning and operation, and events management, allow students to gain insights into niche aspects of the hospitality industry.

UW–Stout participates in numerous articulation agreements with technical colleges throughout the region to facilitate transfers. Students benefit from agreements with national and international hospitality businesses when completing the program’s internship requirement.

16. Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Based in Flagstaff, NAU provides undergraduate and graduate learners with more than 150 academic programs. Founded in 1899 as a teacher training college, NAU now serves students at nearly 30 satellite locations and online.

NAU offers an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. The program includes 120 credits. Learners may transfer up to 75 credits from an Arizona community college into the program. Transfer students need a minimum 2.5 GPA for all previous college coursework.

Students complete 45 credits of hospitality administration core coursework with 12 credits of business classes. Business classes in accounting, economics, information systems, and management build fundamental knowledge and skills applicable to the hospitality industry. Hospitality–specific courses include hotel, restaurant, and food service operations and management. Distance learners also participate in a senior hospitality administration seminar and a field experience internship at an approved agency or organization.

The program also includes concentration options. Students should make sure their concentration aligns with their career goals by choosing courses like international travel and tourism, cuisine and culture, gaming and casino management, and resort operations.

17. University of the Southwest

Hobbs, New Mexico

Established as a Baptist–affiliated junior college in 1956, USW transitioned to a four–year institution two years later. In 1962, USW became an interdenominational college tasked with serving a 21,000 square–mile service area in New Mexico and Texas. From its main campus in Hobbs, New Mexico, USW offers undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 11,000 learners annually.

As one of 11 specialized business administration programs at USW, the online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management incorporates coursework in business, tourism management, and hospitality service. Students study management in the hospitality industry to build knowledge and skills related to organizational design, business processes, customer service, and workplace diversity. USW delivers all online coursework asynchronously.

The hospitality management program at USW prepares students for careers as administrators and leaders at hotels, tourism companies, convention centers, and hospitality service organizations.

Any applicant with at least one college credit beyond a high school diploma or GED qualifies as a transfer student at USW. Applicants submit transcripts and a professional resume for consideration. Learners with fewer than 60 college credits submit high school documentation as well. Applicants need a minimum 2.0 GPA for admission.

18. Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon

Founded as Ashland Academy in 1872, SOU was originally affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Transitioning to a teacher school soon after, SOU closed briefly before reopening at its current location in Ashland, Oregon. Now with a student body of more than 6,200 students, SOU provides academic programs at its main campus, at a location in Medford, Oregon, and online.

SOU’s online bachelor of business administration program includes a concentration in hospitality and tourism management. Designed for students with an associate degree in a field other than business, the 124–credit curriculum prepares learners for managerial and administrative careers in the hospitality industry. Applicants need a minimum 2.5 GPA for consideration.

The bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes core business courses in accounting, hospitality essentials, and business fundamentals. Learners complete 56 credits of hospitality management–related classes such as lodging and tourism operations, food and beverage management, and hospitality and management law. During an applied practicum, learners participate in 120 hours of workplace experience at an approved hospitality setting. Students complete the practicum during the final year of the program.

Applicants to the online bachelor of business administration program at SOU submit transcripts for consideration. Additional materials such as letters of recommendation, a resume, a formal writing sample, and a counselor recommendation are optional.

19. Everglades University

Boca Raton, Florida

Once called American Flyers College, Everglades University opened its doors in 1999. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Everglades University offers academic programs at locations in Sarasota, Orlando, Miami, and Tampa in addition to providing courses through distance learning.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at Everglades University prepares students for managerial positions within the industry. Students complete 123 credits in an average of 41 months. The curriculum includes 30 credits of general education coursework along with 18 credits of business fundamental classes. Learners study principles of accounting and hospitality management with additional courses in sustainability, service industry fundamentals, and front of the house service.

Learners can also complete an interdisciplinary group of classes designed to meet their individual career goals or take additional business coursework in economics, marketing, and information systems technology. During the capstone class, students apply degree knowledge to real world issues as a cumulative exercise. The program delivers all its online coursework asynchronously and without any on–campus requirements.

20. Coastal Carolina University

Conway, South Carolina

Established as a community college in 1954, CCU moved to its current location in Conway, South Carolina in 1963. CCU offers undergraduate and graduate programs through six academic colleges, serving more than 10,000 learners annually.

Offered through the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, CCU’s online bachelor of science in business administration with an emphasis in hospitality, resort, and tourism management includes 120 credits. Students complete general education and foundation coursework alongside 39–45 credits of business core classes. Business core courses in accounting, economics, finance, and management build fundamental knowledge and skills applicable to multiple careers.

The curriculum integrates 21 credits of major coursework in resort tourism, food and beverage studies, and quality process management. Students also learn about guest services while completing classes in revenue management, applied tourism research, and real estate finance and investments. A seminar in resort tourism management planning emphasizes relationships among tourist demand, tourism goods and services, and tourist relationships.

CCU’s bachelor’s degree in hospitality management also includes an optional resort management training internship. Students participate in up to 780 work hours to learn and apply management systems in hospitality and tourism settings.

21. North Carolina Central University

Durham, North Carolina

Located in Durham, North Carolina, NCCU functions within the University of North Carolina System and holds membership in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The historically black university opened its doors in 1909 and currently offers 81 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,000 students.

NCCU’s online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes 128 credits. Students in the program take courses in lodging management and operations, food and beverage production, and event planning and management. The program also includes a leadership colloquium during which learners analyze and synthesize trends, practices, and policies as they impact hospitality and tourism. NCCU delivers all its online coursework asynchronously.

The program also includes several hands–on experiences. Students produce reports, reflection papers, and portfolios to demonstrate progress towards fulfilling the degree’s 1,000–hour internship requirement. During their internship, students participate in a supervised work experience while attending an accompanying seminar.

22. Robert Morris University – RMU Online

Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Founded in 1921, RMU moved from its initial Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania location to Moon Township, Pennsylvania in 1963. Named for financier Robert Morris, RMU offers nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate programs through five academic schools.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at RMU includes 120 credits. Students complete 42 general education credits with 63 major core credits and 15 credits of elective coursework. The program emphasizes management theory and practice while exploring principles of economics, marketing, professional communication, and financial accounting. Additional classes in executive development, international business, and strategic management prepare learners for managerial roles within the hospitality industry.

RMU’s program prepares students for careers at hotels, restaurants, resorts, and convention centers. Learners may also pursue professions within retirement communities, the casino and gaming industry, and at recreational parks and attractions.

Full–time students complete the online business administration degree with a concentration in hospitality and tourism management in four years. RMU delivers all the program’s coursework asynchronously. The university also offers a 4+1 integrated degree in which learners earn their master of business administration in one additional year of coursework.

23. Charleston Southern University

Charleston, South Carolina

Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Charleston Southern opened its doors in 1964. Aiming to promote academic excellence in a Christian environment,

Charleston Southern offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs at its campus in Charleston, South Carolina and online.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes 125 credits. Students complete 47 credits of liberal arts core classes with 51 credits of major coursework. Classes in the hospitality and tourism management curriculum include principles of accounting, economics, and management. Students also study business law, statistics, marketing, and business policy while exploring the fundamentals of the hospitality industry. CSU delivers online coursework asynchronously and without on–campus requirements.

Students also complete a case study course in hospitality and tourism to explore current issues and trends in the industry. All applicants submit transcripts and ACT or SAT scores for consideration. Students 21 years of age or older do not need to submit standardized test scores.

24. Troy University

Troy, Alabama

Established as a teacher’s school in 1887, Troy became the flagship institution within the Troy State University System in 1982. The merger of Troy State University System in 2005 unified the main campus in Troy, Alabama; satellite locations in Dothan, Montgomery, and Phenix City; and online programs as a single institution.

Troy’s online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes 120 credits. Students complete 51 credits of general education requirements with 24 credits of hospitality, sport, and tourism management core classes. Additional coursework in hospitality management accompanies an internship and minor requirement. Hospitality, sport, and tourism management core classes explore principles and practices of event management, leadership, revenue generation, and marketing.

Advanced courses in hotel and restaurant management build knowledge applicable to careers in the hospitality industry. The hotel management course emphasizes different departments within a hotel, how they function, and how they relate to one another. The restaurant management class explores restaurant layout, decoration, and design while simultaneously assessing menu planning, food and beverage procurement, and sanitation.

Students also complete a supervised hospitality management internship across two semesters. Troy does not require distance learners to visit campus and delivers all online coursework asynchronously.

25. Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

Carbondale, Illinois

As the flagship institution of the Southern Illinois University System, SIU began as the state’s second teachers’ college in 1869. Based in Carbondale, SIU offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate programs through 10 academic schools and colleges.

Housed under the College of Agricultural Sciences, the online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management incorporates principles and practices of the field while building problem–solving skills. Students complete 120 credits of general education; professional core; and hospitality, tourism, and management core requirements.

Professional core classes introduce students to foundational aspects of accounting, management, marketing, and mathematics. Hospitality, tourism, and event management core classes like food service sanitation, quantity food production, and multicultural foods explore food patterns and handling as they relate to the hospitality industry.

Courses in hotel administration, resort management, and destination management emphasize financial, human resource, and organizational aspects of lodging and travel. Facility management, sports event management, and convention management classes train students to plan, organize, and oversee multifaceted aspects of events.

SIU’s program also includes two internships and a capstone course. During the capstone class, learners integrate theoretical and practical knowledge to analyze issues related to hospitality, tourism, and event management. Students prepare a research project or business development plan as part of the culminating exercise.

26. University of South Carolina – Beaufort

Bluffton, South Carolina

Based in Bluffton, South Carolina, USCB operates an additional campus in Beaufort and a location on Hilton Head Island. As a senior campus of the University of South Carolina, USCB educates more than 2,000 learners with an 18–to–1 student–to–faculty ratio.

The bachelor’s degree in hospitality management online at USCB includes 120 credits, although learners need 45 to 60 credits of previous college coursework to apply. Once accepted, students complete 57 credits of major coursework in hotel management, tourism, and hospitality marketing sales alongside classes in principles of food service sanitation, management by menu, and quantity food production.

Learners complete the final three classes in the curriculum simultaneously. The food service sanitation class focuses on business and regulatory practices. The management by menu course builds skills in analysis, pricing, and menu development. Finally, the quantity food production class explores the path food takes from purchase to storage and the consumer.

Additional classes in club management, hospitality financial management, and hospitality management strategies accompany practicum and internship requirements. During the hospitality practicum, students work full time under the supervision of an industry professional. The internship provides similar practical experience, as students complete 400 contact hours within a hospitality management company at a supervisory level.

27. Johnson & Wales University

Providence, Rhode Island

Operating a main campus in Providence, Rhode Island, JWU also provides academic programs at locations in Charlotte, Miami, Denver, and online. Established as a business school in 1914, JWU emphasizes industry–focused education to enhance career potential and leadership opportunities for students.

JWU’s bachelor’s degree in hospitality management online includes 180 credits. Full–time students complete the program in four years. Foundational business courses in accounting, finance, business legal environments, and spreadsheet design complement major coursework. Learners also study menu planning, food service and hospitality strategic marketing, and beverage appreciation.

JWU’s curriculum includes a course in new media literacy in sports, entertainment, and events management. The class trains students to interact with mass communication technologies with an emphasis on ethical and data–driven communication. The dynamics of tourism and sustainability class covers economic, cultural, and social aspects of planning and developing tourist activities. Students also complete a hospitality management internship to gain applied experience within an approved hospitality location.

Applicants to the hospitality management program must have at least two years of full–time work experience.

28. Norfolk State University

Norfolk, Virginia

Founded as a unit of Virginia State University in 1935, NSU became an autonomous institution in 1969. From its main campus in Norfolk, Virginia and online, NSU serves more than 5,000 students and holds membership in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. NSU offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs through eight academic colleges and schools.

NSU’s online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management includes 121 credits. Students complete general education courses alongside introductory classes in tourism and hospitality, business and entrepreneurship, and communication. Courses in financial accounting, economics, and marketing emphasize business fundamentals. Major courses in nutrition for food service, sanitation principles, and dining room and beverage management explore aspects of diet, menu planning, and food preparation.

Additional elective options in club and resort management, catering management, multi–cultural management, and fair and amusement park management provide students an opportunity to explore aspects of tourism and hospitality in line with their personal and professional goals. During the final semester of the program, all students complete a senior project. Distance learners can also complete an internship to gain practical experience working in the hospitality industry.

29. Granite State College

Concord, New Hampshire

As one of four institutions within the University System of New Hampshire, GSC opened its doors in 1972. Based in Concord, GSC provides academic programs from seven additional locations throughout New Hampshire and online. Hoping to expand higher education to learners of all ages, GSC also partners with the Community College of the Air Force and serves as a General Education Mobile institution.

The online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at GSC builds communication, public relations, and leadership skills applicable to careers in the hospitality industry. Students need an associate degree in hospitality services, tourism, or a related field to enroll. Professional licensure, certifications, and trainings may also meet the admission requirements for the degree.

GSC’s transfer pathway allows students to transfer in an entire associate degree if they meet institutional criteria. GSC participates in partnerships with community colleges throughout New Hampshire to facilitate transfers.

The hospitality management curriculum includes 120 credits. Students complete foundational coursework in hotel and restaurant management; food service systems and control; sustainable tourism; and event, meeting, and conference management. GSC’s program also emphasizes principles of marketing and management while training students in project management strategies, financial accounting, and service marketing.

30. Bethune–Cookman University

Daytona Beach, Florida

Opened thanks to the efforts of Mary McLeod Bethune in 1904, the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville in 1923. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, B–CU became a four–year institution in 1941 and took on its current name in 2007. B–CU provides over 40 undergraduate and graduate programs — including an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management — through 12 schools and colleges.

The hospitality management curriculum consists of 123 credits. The degree prepares students for careers in food service, global tourism, lodging and resort management, and entrepreneurship. Classes in guest services, hospitality information technology, revenue management, and hospitality risk management build holistic knowledge of the hospitality industry.

B–CU’s program also allows learners to concentrate their degree in event and entertainment, focusing on skills applicable to planning and overseeing weddings, trade shows, festivals, and similar events.

Students in the program complete two internships (800 work hours) during their time at B–CU. During the first internship, students integrate course theories and skills in a supervised setting. The second internship offers more autonomy and places learners in a managerial role at an approved site. Learners participate in internships at locations in line with their professional goals, including hotels, restaurants, events and recreation facilities, and private clubs and resorts.

If you are interested in the culinary aspect of the hospitality field, then see What Can I Do With a Culinary Degree?