The 20 Best Online Bachelor in Hospitality Management Degree Programs

The hospitality and tourism industry—one of the world’s largest—supports more than 7.6 million jobs in the United States.

This vast industry provides an array of job opportunities for individuals who enjoy working with people. A bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism prepares you for a wide range of management positions across the industry. The degree provides you with a competitive edge in finding a job.

Some colleges offer a bachelor of science degree in hospitality management or a bachelor of science in hospitality and tourism management, whereas some colleges offer a bachelor of science in business administration with an emphasis in hospitality management.

Some hospitality programs allow you to specialize in a particular field such as:

Careers in this huge industry are available in areas such as:

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Ranking guidelines: We ranked the following online hospitality and tourism bachelor’s degree programs based on the quality of the program, the types of classes offered, the quality of business education, faculty strength, awards, reputation, including the school’s reputation for providing online degree programs.

RANKING METHODOLOGY

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The 20 Best Online Bachelor in Hospitality Management Degree Programs

1Washington State University, WSU Global Campus, Carson College of Business, School of Hospitality Business Management

(Pullman, Washington)

Washington State University (WSU), a public land-grant research university founded in 1890, offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs in 200 fields of study. WSU is among the largest institutions of higher education in the state with more than 29,000 students enrolled. The School of Hospitality Business Management is one of the nation’s oldest programs and includes world-class researchers.

Offered through WSU Global Campus and the Carson College of Business, Washington State University’s online Bachelor in Hospitality Business Management degree provides students with the fundamental knowledge needed for successful careers in the hospitality industry, such as convention centers, hotels, tourist destinations and senior facilities. The curriculum allows students to gain expertise in revenues, operations, service, sales, consulting, and event planning.

Designed for part-time students, the year-round Hospitality Business Management program includes both 7-week and 16-week courses. The fully online program includes the following courses:

• Hospitality Systems
• Foodservice Systems and Control
• Introduction to Industry Experience
• Service Operations Management
• Personnel and Human Resources Management
• Operational Analysis
• Hospitality Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Students must complete 1,000 paid hours in the hospitality industry and a six-credit international experience. International experience options include study abroad, approved coursework, and international internships.

Washington State University is regionally accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The Carson College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business also known as AACSB International.

2University of Massachusetts Amherst, Isenberg School of Management, Dept. of Hospitality and Tourism Management

(Amherst, Massachusetts)

The University of Massachusetts Amherst, a public research, land-grant university founded in 1863, offers more than 225 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees through nine colleges and schools. The flagship of the University of Massachusetts system, UMass Amherst is the largest public university in New England with about 30,000 students enrolled and boasts 250,000 alumni worldwide. The Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management is the oldest program in New England.

Offered through the Isenberg School of Management, an AACSB International accredited business school, UMass Amherst’s online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management degree program emphasizes projects, internships and experiential learning labs. The curriculum also provides students with a strong core business knowledge with courses in macroeconomics, statistics, microeconomics, and corporate finance. Students can tailor their degree to their personal and professional goals with a host of elective course options.

Program applicants must hold at least 27 transferrable semester credits. Students can complete the program fully online with no on-campus visits. The 120-credit online Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism Management degree program includes the following classes:

• Human Resources Management
• Restaurant Operations Management
• Service Experience Management
• Food Service Management
• Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism
• Hospitality and Tourism Law

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is regionally accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE) and by The Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

3Florida International University, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

(University Park, Florida)

Florida International University, a public research university established in 1965, enrolls about 54,000 students. Part of the State University System of Florida, the university offers nearly 200 programs of study ranging from undergraduate to professional degrees through two dozen schools and colleges. The Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management attracts students from all over the world.

Florida International University offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management online degree through the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Students receive a solid foundation in logistics, business management, finance, operations, and accounting. With a combination of academic instruction and hands-on experience, the program prepares graduates for careers in international hotel and tourism industries, food and beverage management, and event management.

The flexible curriculum provides 24/7 access to interactive technology and features three program start dates. The 120-credit Bachelor in Hospitality Management online degree program includes the following courses:

• Hospitality Facilities Environmental Systems
• Introductory Commercial Food Production
• Lodging Operations Control
• Financial Analysis in the Hospitality Industry
• Restaurant Management
• Hospitality Analytics and Revenue Management

Students can choose from concentrations such as Travel and Tourism Management, Restaurant/Foodservice Management, Hotel/Lodging Management, Beverage Management, Culinary Management, and Event Management.

Each student is paired with a success coach and must work at least 1,000 hours in the industry and 300 hours at an advanced internship.

Florida International University is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS), and is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

4Northern Arizona University

(Flagstaff, Arizona)

Northern Arizona University, a public university established in 1899, enrolls about 30,000 students. The university offers approximately 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through eight colleges.

The W.A. Franke College of Business, an AACSB International accredited business school, serves as the home of the School of Hotel & Restaurant Management. More than 75 percent of the School of Hotel & Restaurant Management faculty have doctoral degrees.

Northern Arizona University’s online Bachelor in Hotel & Restaurant Management degree program features hands-on experience, external internships, and in-depth coursework. The program helps students develop strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. The program prepares graduates for careers as a development manager, hotel manager, or restaurant general manager.

The 120-unit Bachelor in Hotel & Restaurant degree curriculum includes 73 units of major requirements, such as courses in:

• Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
• Revenue Management and Cost Control for Restaurants
• Hospitality Managerial Accounting
• Foundations in Kitchen Operations
• Hospitality Law
• Hotel Group Sales Management

Students must complete a senior capstone course.

Northern Arizona University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The university is also accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

5Johnson & Wales University, JWU Online

(Providence, Rhode Island)

Johnson & Wales University, a private, coeducational, nonprofit university founded in 1914, enrolls about 17,000 students. The university offers a host of degree programs through four academic units — the College of Business, the Hospitality College, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the College of Culinary Arts.

Designed for current hospitality professionals, Johnson & Wales University’s Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management online degree program provides students with an in-depth perspective of the industry. Offered through JWU Online, the fully online degree program provides students with management skills needed for successful careers in food and beverage, lodging, event planning, and tourism. The curriculum features courses in financial analysis, business negotiations, design and execution strategies, and revenue management.

Applicants must have two years of full-time work experience.

The flexible program features 11-week courses and no on-campus visits. The online Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management includes the following courses:

• Beverage Appreciation
• Revenue Management
• Leading Service Excellence in the Hospitality Industry
• Microeconomics
• Dynamics of Tourism and Sustainability
• Managing the Hotel Guest Experience
• Introduction to Menu Planning and Cost Controls

Students can gain real-world experience through internship opportunities.

Johnson & Wales University is regionally accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE).

6University of Alabama

(Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

The University of Alabama, a public research, sea-grant, space-grant university founded in 1820, is the largest public university in the state. The flagship of the University of Alabama System, the University of Alabama enrolls 37,600 students in a variety of undergraduate, graduate, education specialist and doctoral degree programs.

The University of Alabama’s online Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences, Restaurant, Hotel, & Meetings Management degree program provides students with a foundation in hospitality administration. The program also allows students to develop effective problem-solving strategies and management practices. The degree prepares graduates for careers in convention sales and services, hotel or resort industries, and food service management and catering.

The same faculty teach the university’s online and on-campus courses. The 120-hour Bachelor in Human Environmental Sciences, Restaurant, Hotel & Meetings Management degree includes the following required courses:

• Hospitality Employee Supervision and Management
• Management of Food and Beverage Operations
• Front Office Procedures
• Hospitality Marketing
• Restaurant Management and Service
• Managerial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry
• Principles of Food Preparation
• Quantity Food Production and Service

Students must complete 500 hours at an internship.

The University of Alabama is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).

7East Carolina University, College of Business

(Greenville, North Carolina)

East Carolina University, a public, sea-grant university founded 1907, enrolls about 29,000 students. Among the largest universities in the state, East Carolina University offers hundreds of degree programs, ranging from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral degrees, through more than a dozen schools and colleges.

East Carolina University’s online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree provides students with a solid liberal arts foundation. Offered through the College of Business and the School of Hospitality Leadership, the program prepares graduates for management careers in food and beverage, lodging, and conventions and special events. The 126-semester-hour Bachelor in Hospitality Management degree program features 45 semester hours of hospitality core courses, such as:

• Multicultural Hospitality Management
• Principles of Food Preparation and Menu Planning
• Hospitality Facilities Management
• Dimensions of Tourism
• Introduction to Conventions and Special Events
• Hospitality Information Systems
• Hospitality Human Resources Management

Students must complete a minor in business administration as well as a hospitality concentration, including those in lodging management, food and beverage management, and conventions and special events management. Students also must complete 200 field work hours and a 400 hour internship.

East Carolina University students can earn both a bachelor’s in hospitality management degree and a master’s in business administration degree with a hospitality management option in five years.

East Carolina University is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).

8University of South Carolina, Palmetto College

(Beaufort, South Carolina)

University of South Carolina, a public, coeducational research university founded in 1801, offers more than 350 programs of study leading to a host of bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. The flagship of the University of South Carolina system, University of South Carolina enrolls about 49,000 students.

The University of South Carolina offers an online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree through USC Beaufort and Palmetto College. Students can tailor their degree to their personal and professional goals with concentrations in food service, tourism, and hotels.

Program applicants must hold 45 to 60 college credits. Students can complete the 120-hour Bachelor in Hospitality Management program in about two years. Courses include:

• Introduction to Hospitality Industry
• Hotel Management
• Restaurant Food Production Management
• Tourism
• Quantity Food Production
• Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Law
• Principles of Food Service Sanitation
• Destination Marketing
• Hospitality Accounting

Students must complete a practicum.

The University of South Carolina is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). The school is also accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

9Arizona State University, ASU Online, W.P. Carey School of Business

(Tempe, Arizona)

Arizona State University, a public research university established in 1885, is the largest public university in the nation with 82,000 students enrolled. Arizona State University offers 350 majors leading to a host of undergraduate and graduate degrees across 16 colleges and schools, including more than 100 fully online programs through ASU Online.

The Online Bachelor of Arts in Tourism degree program, offered through ASU Online and the W.P. Carey School of Business, features a multidisciplinary curriculum. Students develop skills needed to understand effective marketing techniques.

The program prepares graduates for the tourism industry or related professions, such as commercial recreation businesses, travel and tourism bureaus, and tourism development companies. The online Bachelor in Tourism program includes courses, such as:

• Business Law and Ethics for Managers
• Fundamentals of Finance
• Marketing and Business Performance
• Global Supply Operations
• Organization and Management Leadership
• Introduction to Travel and Tourism
• Uses of Accounting Information

Arizona State University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

10Troy University, School of Hospitality, Sport & Tourism Management

(Troy, Alabama)

Troy University, a public university founded in 1887, offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The flagship of the Troy University System, Troy University enrolls 19,500 students.

Troy University’s online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management program prepares students for careers in hotels, restaurants, resorts, conference centers, event management, casinos, retail, club management, entertainment and other related industries. The School of Hospitality, Sport & Tourism Management’s curriculum and faculty develop students’ communication, critical-thinking, and analytical skills.

Troy University allows students to tailor their Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management degree with three concentrations — hospitality management, sport management, and tourism management.

Some of the courses the 122-hour online bachelor degree program provides are shown below:

• Marketing in Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management
• Event Management in Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management
• Hotel Management
• Restaurant Management
• HRM in Hospitality
• Hospitality Service
• Current Issues in Hospitality

Students must complete a capstone course, internship, and an 18-hour minor.

Troy University is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).

11Utah Valley University

(Orem, Utah)

Utah Valley University, a public university established in 1941, provides a wide variety of associate and bachelor degrees and a small number of master degrees. The university has about 33,000 students.

The hospitality program, housed in the Woodbury School of Business, an AACSB accredited school, provides an online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree. The degree provides four specializations: General Operations, Food and Beverage Management (designed mainly for Culinary Arts AAS graduate) Revenue Management, and a Foreign Language Track.

The degree program prepares students for careers in a wide array of hospitality and tourism sectors. The 120-credit online Bachelor in Hospitality Management degree includes core courses such as:

• Hotel Operations I
• Hotel Operations II
• Hospitality Finance
• Hospitality Strategic Management
• Hospitality Law
• Introduction to Human Resource Management
• Marketing of Hospitality Services
• Hospitality Managerial Accounting

Utah Valley University is regionally accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

12Norfolk State University

(Norfolk, Virginia)

Norfolk State University (NSU), a public, coeducational liberal arts university founded in 1935, enrolls about 7,000 students. A member of the Virginia High-Tech Partnership and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, NSU offers three dozen bachelor’s degree programs as well as 17 master and doctoral degree programs through eight colleges and schools.

The online Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management degree program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in the hospitality industry.

The program follows a cohort format. Students complete 121 credits over eight semesters. The Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management includes the following courses:

• Fundamentals of Nutrition for Food Service
• Introduction to Hospitality
• Cases in Hospitality Management
• Legal Environment for Business
• Front Office Management
• Computers in Hospitality
• Dining Room and Beverage Management
• Purchasing for the Hospitality Industry

Students must complete a senior project. Students can gain real-world experience through internship opportunities.

Norfolk State University is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).

13Bethune-Cookman University, Bob Billingslea School of Hospitality Management, College of Online and Professional Studies

(Daytona Beach, Florida)

Bethune-Cookman University, a private, coeducational university founded in 1904, enrolls about 4,000 students. The university, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, offers about 40 bachelor’s degree programs and a handful of master’s degree programs through a dozen colleges and schools.

Offered through the Bob Billingslea School of Hospitality Management and the College of Online and Professional Studies, the online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management accelerated program prepares graduates for leadership roles in lodging and resorts, entrepreneurship, global tourism, and more.

The curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in business administration as well as skills needed in hotel, restaurant and tourism/travel management. The online program features the same curriculum as the university’s on-campus program. The Bachelor in Hospitality Management online degree includes the following courses:

• Introduction to Hospitality Industry
• Front Office Management
• Hospitality Managerial Accounting
• Hospitality Marketing
• Hospitality Human Resources Management
• Event Management
• Hospitality Law
• Facilities Engineering & Design

Students gain real-world experience through internships.

Bethune-Cookman University is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). The university is also accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

14California State University East Bay, College of Education and Allied Studies, Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism

(Hayward, California)

California State University East Bay (CSU East Bay), a public university founded in 1957, enrolls about 15,500 students. Part of the California State University System, CSU East Bay offers nearly 200 undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programs of study.

Offered through the College of Education and Allied Studies and the Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism, the online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism degree program prepares graduates for careers in lodging, tourism/travel, restaurant food service, and meetings and events. The program also enables students to gain real-world experience through internship opportunities. The Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism program includes the following courses:

• Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism
• Social Justice in Leisure and Hospitality
• Management and Supervision in Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism
• Fiscal Leadership for Operational Managers
• Dimensions of Tourism
• Hospitality Law
• Service Learning in Leadership, Hospitality and Leisure
• Computers in Hospitality and Leisure

California State University East Bay is regionally accredited by The WASC Senior College and University Commission.

15Fort Hays State University, Virtual College

(Hays, Kansas)

Fort Hays State University (FHSU), a public, coeducational university founded in 1902, is among the largest in the state with about 14,000 students enrolled. FHSU offers about 80 undergraduate and graduate academic majors through four colleges – Business and Entrepreneurship, Education and Technology, Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, and Health and Life Sciences.

Offered through the university’s Virtual College, the online Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management degree prepares graduates for management careers in the hospitality and tourism industries. The university allows students to tailor their degree to their personal and professional goals with concentrations in Events Management, Health & Wellness Tourism, and Hospitality Operations. The 120-hour Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management includes courses, such as:

• Introduction to Business
• Human Resource Management
• Management Principles
• Business Communication
• International Hospitality: Problems & Planning
• Principles & Practices in Tourism & Hospitality Management
• Tourism & Hospitality Marketing

Students also complete an internship.

Fort Hays State University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

16Grand Canyon University, Colangelo College of Business

(Phoenix, Arizona)

Grand Canyon University, a for-profit Christian university founded in 1949, offers more than 60 bachelor, graduate and doctoral degree programs through eight colleges. The university enrolls about 75,000 students.

Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business offers an online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree, which prepares graduates for entry-level management positions in hotels, restaurants and other hospitality industry businesses. The curriculum allows students to develop strong critical-thinking and communication skills. Students gain real-world experience through access to the university’s golf course and hotel. The 120-credit Hospitality Management Bachelor’s degree includes course subjects, such as:

• Economics
• Business Statistics
• Food and Beverage Service and Operations
• Revenue Generation for Hospitality
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Business
• Managerial Accounting

Students must complete field work experience.

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

17Concordia University, Saint Paul

(Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Concordia University, Saint Paul, a liberal arts university founded in 1893, enrolls about 4,000 students. An affiliate of the Concordia University System, the university offers a host of undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs.

Concordia University, Saint Paul’s online Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management degree provides students with a foundation in management, marketing and customer service needed for successful careers in leisure, hospitality, travel and tourism industries. Students develop skills to apply their knowledge to tourism and hospitality industry opportunities and problems. The 128-hour online Hospitality Management Bachelor’s degree program includes 40 credit hours of major courses, such as:

• Analytics and Technology
• Integrate Promotional Strategy in Hospitality
• Innovations and Systems Thinking
• Principles of Ethical Management
• Human Resource Management and Employment Law
• New Media Literacy & Social Media
• Hospitality Business Management

The university offers its online courses in a seven-week format.

Concordia University, Saint Paul is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

18Robert Morris University, School of Business

(Moon, Pennsylvania)

Robert Morris University, a private, coeducational university founded in 1921, provides more than 80 degree programs ranging from bachelor to doctorate. The university enrolls more than 5,000 students.

The online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism Management, offered through the School of Business, provides students with a solid academic foundation with core courses in humanities, science, social sciences, and economics.

Students can gain real-world experience through internship opportunities. The Bachelor in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism Management includes the following courses:

• Introduction to Hospitality/Tourism Management
• Food and Beverage Operations
• Hospitality/Tourism Marketing/Sales
• Meeting and Convention Management
• Economic Dynamics of International Tourism
• Supervision: Hospitality/Tourism Operations
• Advanced Foods and Catering Operations
• Computerized Information Systems for the Hospitality and Tourism
• Financial Management for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
• Executive Development

Robert Morris University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the School of Business is accredited by AACSB.

19Monroe College

(Bronx, New York)

Monroe College, a private college and graduate school founded in 1933, enrolls about 7,000 students. The college offers a number of programs ranging from certificates to undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The online Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management degree provides students with a deeper understanding of management of food and beverage costs; staffing and scheduling; planning events and recreational opportunities; and managing hotel, motel and resort operations.

Students can complete the program in four years. The Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management degree includes courses such as:

• Dining Room Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Managerial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry
• Sale and Marketing for Hotels/Restaurants
• Hospitality Law
• Customer Service

Monroe College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

20Eastern New Mexico University

(Portales, New Mexico)

Eastern New Mexico University, a public university founded in 1934, enrolls about 6,000 students. The university has students from 48 states and 31 countries. The university offers a host of degree programs through a graduate school and four colleges – business, education and technology, fine arts, and liberal arts and sciences.

The online Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Hospitality Management prepares graduates for careers in restaurants, hospitality, lodging, organizations which promote tourism, and more.

Students complete courses for a Bachelor of Business Administration as well as 19 hours in their emphasis area. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Hospitality Management includes the following courses:

• Business Research and Analysis
• Organizational Behavior
• Marketing Management
• Managerial Finance
• Food Operations Management
• Productions and Operations Management
• Information Systems for Managers
• Convention and Event Management
• Hotel and Club Management
• Tourism Development
• Services Marketing

Students complete a capstone course.

Eastern New Mexico University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The College of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).