Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Updated March 12, 2024
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Online Hospitality Degree
Online hospitality management degrees provide flexible, convenient ways for students to pursue careers in one of the largest and most profitable industries in the country.
Learners study how different segments of the industry, like lodging and food service, develop and interact. They also gain a working understanding of the common tools and strategies professionals use to build success in restaurants, amusement parks, and entertainment centers.
Hospitality management is an umbrella category that also includes more specialized degrees, like online restaurant management degrees or online hotel management courses. Depending on your career goals, one of these specializations might be better suited to your needs than a general hospitality management degree.
Featured Hospitality Management Schools
Graduates can pursue careers as lodging managers, event planners, and marketing managers. The job outlook for these positions is strong. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for marketing managers to grow 10% between 2022-2032.
This guide ranks the best online hospitality management schools to help students find the right fit for their needs. We also cover important information for prospective students, including common courses and potential careers and salaries for graduates.
Best Online Bachelor in Hospitality Management Degree Programs
We use trusted sources like
Peterson's Data and
the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
#1 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Florida International University
Miami, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $236
Out-of-State | $649
Credits to Graduate: 120
FIU's online BS in hospitality management requires 60 core curriculum credits and 60 program credits. Courses include tourism destination marketing, hospitality law and ethics, and leadership in the hospitality industry. A first-year candidate must submit high school transcripts; SAT, ACT, or CLT scores; and a $30 application fee.
The university also offers a combined BS/MS in hospitality management, which allows students to earn both degrees in a compressed time frame. An applicant needs at least 75 credits to be considered for admission to the dual degree.
#2 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $179
Out-of-State | $716
Credits to Graduate: 120
Offered through the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, UCF's online BS in hospitality management can prepare students for long-term careers in operations, marketing, or other roles in hospitality. Courses include fine spirits management, guest services management, and introduction to the hospitality and tourism industry.
Each candidate must submit ACT or SAT scores, transcripts, and a $30 application fee. Homeschooled students and applicants with GED certificates should submit evidence of their equivalency programs. New students can begin in the fall, spring, or summer.
#3 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Johnson & Wales University Online
Providence, RI - 4 years
- Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $495
Out-of-State | $495
Credits to Graduate: 120
JWU's online BS in hospitality management offers flexible coursework in the business, art, and science of the hospitality industry.
Students can choose from three concentrations: food and beverage management, hotel and resort management, or sustainable tourism. Courses include hospitality strategic design and execution, dynamics of tourism and sustainability, and menu planning and cost control.
Most courses last eight weeks, although some require a 16-week commitment. The entire program takes about four years. Candidates should submit transcripts and applications, and JWU accepts new students year-round.
#4 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $243
Out-of-State | $243
Credits to Graduate: 120
Located in Kansas, FHSU enrolls almost 17,000 learners online and on campus. FHSU's BS in tourism and hospitality management prepares graduates to pursue careers as cruise directors, casino managers, and convention directors. As an applied business degree, this program requires both business and tourism-related courses, along with eight credits of Spanish.
In addition to courses such as foundations of wine and tourism and hospitality marketing, students can learn through summer internships and community engagement initiatives.
#5 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $219
Out-of-State | $342
Credits to Graduate: 120
UWF's online BS in global hospitality and tourism can prepare career-switchers or seasoned hospitality managers for leadership roles in the industry. The program's comprehensive curriculum requires 45 credits in the major, including courses like resort operations and management. Students also complete internships.
Graduates may pursue careers as food service managers, lodging managers, and event planners. Successful applicants need a 2.5 GPA or better. Each prospective student must submit an application, SAT or ACT scores, and transcripts.
#6 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $264
Out-of-State | $782
Credits to Graduate: 120
Offered through the College of Business, FAU's online BBA in hospitality and tourism management can prepare graduates for careers in lodging, food, beverage, and commercial recreation management. Courses include hotel and resort management, financial analytics for hospitality managers, and excellence in guest service management, along with an internship.
Graduates may pursue careers or pursue MBAs or graduate certificates in hospitality management at FAU. New students are admitted as pre-business majors and must complete the required coursework before full admission to the program.
#7 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Washington State University Global Campus
Pullman, WA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $568
Out-of-State | $633
Credits to Graduate: 120
Offered through the Carson College of Business, WSU's online BA in hospitality business management prepares graduates for tourism-related careers by equipping them with industry-specific knowledge, skills, and strategies. WSU's first hospitality program launched in 1932 and is the third-oldest hospitality degree in the U.S.
Students take courses in seven-week rotations. In addition to traditional classes, each enrollee works 1,000 hours in the industry and may apply to study for a semester at the Brig campus of César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland.
#8 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $375
Out-of-State | $375
Credits to Graduate: 180
OSU's online bachelor's in hospitality management is a future-focused degree — the school reports a 100% job placement rate for its graduates. Courses include lodging management, hospitality technology laboratory, revenue management and pricing, and an internship. OSU also offers an optional ecotourism and sustainability specialization and several prospective minors.
Students who want to pursue MBAs or MS degrees in the discipline can complete accelerated bachelor's/master's pathways. New students may begin at one of four entry dates each year.
#9 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $449
Out-of-State | $449
Credits to Graduate: 127
BC's online BS in hospitality management helps busy working students complete their degrees in a simplified cohort experience to graduate with a built-in professional network. This degree includes courses such as managing the customer experience, leading a team, and anthropology of tourism.
Students conclude the program with a hospitality management innovation capstone. Each applicant must have completed high school, a comparable homeschool experience, or a GED certificate. The university also charges a $50 application fee.
#10 Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $186
Out-of-State | $864
Credits to Graduate: 120
Students in ECU's BS in hospitality management can specialize in lodging management, food and beverage management, and convention and special events management. The program also offers study-abroad opportunities in Ireland and Switzerland. Along with pursuing careers in hospitality management, graduates can pursue master's certificates and master of science in sustainable tourism degrees at ECU.
Courses include lodging management; multicultural hospitality management; and meeting, event, and convention planning. Students also complete relevant labs. Each candidate must submit an application, transcripts, and a $75 fee.
Online Bachelor's in Hospitality Management Programs Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Our Methodology
Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.
Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.
While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.
-
Academics -
Affordability -
Online Enrollment
Data Sources
The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.
Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs. Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence.com, subject matter experts, prior TBS ranking lists, or other sources we deem relevant to a particular ranking.
Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology
About Our Ranking Factors
Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.
Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.
We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.
Academics - 75%
Affordability - 15%
Online Enrollment - 10%
In all our school rankings and recommendations, we work for objectivity and balance. We carefully research and compile each ranking list, and as stated in our advertising disclosure, we do NOT permit financial incentives to influence rankings. Our articles never promote or disregard a school for financial gain.
If you have questions about our ranking methodology, please feel free to connect with our staff through contact page.
We thank you for your readership and trust.
Hospitality Management Degree Overview
Online hospitality degrees develop core management skills while emphasizing practical applications in the hospitality industry. These programs also cultivate working knowledge of lodging and accommodation procedures, food and beverage regulations, tourism revenue, and event planning logistics.
Online hospitality management programs cover the industry as a whole, but many schools also encourage learners to explore niche areas through electives on topics like club and casino management, food and wine pairing, and convention sales.
What Can I Expect From a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management Program?
Courses vary by program, but most online hospitality management programs offer classes similar to those listed below.
Hospitality Management Curriculum
- Hospitality Law: This course introduces degree-seekers to the main legal issues that affect the hospitality industry. The class focuses on legal responsibilities related to travel and tourism and reviews bailment, food regulation, alcohol licensing, and safety concerns. Learners also study topics like innkeepers' rights, contract law, and negligence.
- Hospitality Services Marketing: Learners in this course study the main marketing techniques used in hospitality and tourism management with a focus on planning and consumer demand. Potential topics include segment marketing, distribution channels, and event promotion.
- Revenue Management: This class develops foundational knowledge of revenue management and its applications in tourism and hotel administration. Learners study concepts like time-variable demand, perishable inventory, and fixed capacity constraints. Degree-seekers learn how to predict guest arrivals, analyze pricing models, and manage overbooking concerns.
Hospitality Management Careers
Hospitality management professionals can work in industries like food service, accomodations, entertainment, transportation, and event planning. The following list outlines popular careers for graduates with an online hospitality degree, though some careers may require qualifications beyond a bachelor's degree, such as certification or further education.
Lodging Managers
| Median Annual Salary: $61,910 | Projected Job Growth: 7% |
|---|
Lodging and hotel managers work to maintain and improve the satisfaction of guests. They promote pleasant environments by managing day-to-day operations and establishing company-wide standards. They also inspect accommodations, interact with guests, train employees, develop budgets, and monitor overall hotel performance.
This position generally requires a bachelor's degree in hospitality management or a related field along with years of professional experience. Some lodging managers may choose to pursue graduate study or certifications in hotel management to advance their careers.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
| Median Annual Salary: $52,560 | Projected Job Growth: 8% |
|---|
These professionals coordinate large-scale meetings and events. They ensure that these events run smoothly by overseeing logistics, making travel and accommodation arrangements, and soliciting workable bids from venues and service providers. They also monitor all activities for the duration of planned events and delegate project management tasks to staff. Once events conclude, they review budgets, submit billable invoices, and approve payments to vendors.
Most event planners need a bachelors' in hospitality or a related field and significant professional experience. Those who work primarily with state and federal governments must obtain additional certification. Event planners typically work full time in a demanding, fast-paced environment. They often travel regularly to attend events and inspect potential venues.
Marketing Managers
| Median Annual Salary: $133,380 | Projected Job Growth: 10% |
|---|
Marketing managers develop programs and advertising campaigns designed to generate consumer interest in a product or service. They often work alongside other professionals to develop budgets and contracts that pertain to marketing media. They also evaluate the efficacy of marketing materials, conduct targeted research, and develop pricing strategies. They may serve as liaisons between clients and promotional agencies.
Most marketing managers hold a bachelor's degree in a field like advertising, marketing, hospitality management, or journalism. They generally work full time in an office setting. Sometimes, they may travel to meet with clients and other representatives.
Popular Questions About Hospitality Management
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management Program?
It typically takes four years of full-time study to complete an online bachelor's in hospitality management.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management?
This degree qualifies learners for most entry-level hospitality positions. The program also prepares degree-seekers to pursue graduate programs in business or a related field.
How Much Do You Make in Hospitality Management?
Salary varies by industry. According to the BLS, professionals who work in lodging enjoy a median annual wage of $61,910, while marketing managers earn around $133,380 annually.
What Is Hospitality Management?
A broad field, hospitality management encompasses the administrative and management aspects of industries like tourism, food and lodging, event planning, and transportation.
What Is a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management?
A bachelor's in hospitality management is a four-year degree that builds skills in public relations, finance, marketing, and human resources.
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