Interested in planning events, managing hotels or restaurants, or helping tourists visit your community? An online hospitality management program is a flexible way to learn the skills you need to be successful in tourism and hospitality.
The hospitality industry is only growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that by 2033, 1 in 8 jobs will be in the leisure and hospitality sector — that's more than 800,000 new jobs. Find some great online hospitality management programs to help you advance in this growing industry.
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Best Online Hospitality Management Programs
How We Highlight What Schools Do Best
We analyzed each school's program to identify qualities that set it apart from others on this list, prioritizing factors like flexibility, concentration options, and affordability. Based on these strengths, we assigned each school a superlative category.
Since many programs share similar offerings and outcomes, our goal is to simplify your college decision-making by highlighting the features most relevant to your needs.
We verified these schools' facts in December 2025.
Why You Should Get a Hospitality Management Degree
Learn industry-relevant skills: A hospitality management degree program can teach you specialized skills in hotel and restaurant operations, event planning, food and beverage services, and more.
Find networking opportunities: Many hospitality management programs offer access to alumni events, industry conferences, and other opportunities to build a professional network, which can help you find job opportunities.
Advance your career: The hospitality industry is broad and offers many career opportunities across many sectors, such as resort or restaurant management.
Earn a higher salary: With a bachelor's degree, you can expect to earn nearly $600 more per week than you would with just a high school diploma, per the BLS.
Benefits of Getting a Hospitality Management Degree Online
In our 2025 Online Education Trends Report, 90% of online program graduates say their degree has or will have a positive return on investment. Even more business students and grads (94%) said the same.
We found that 52% of online business students and graduates say their online classes included assignments they could use to explore future career options.
Nearly all (98%) of online business students and grads said they would recommend online education to others.
How to Choose the Best Hospitality Management Degree Program for You
As you research programs, evaluate tuition cost, financial availability, and program length. You should also consider the career paths you can pursue after graduation to make sure the hospitality industry is the right fit for you.
Weighing these factors can help you make the right choice before enrolling.
How Much Does a Hospitality Management Degree Cost?
Cost of Bachelor's Degrees in Business, Management, and Marketing, 2019-2020
Online
Avg. Tuition & Fees: $10,473
Avg. Net Price: $5,918
On-Campus
Avg. Tuition & Fees: $16,941
Avg. Net Price: $9,248
Source: NCES PowerStats, 2019-2020
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), bachelor's degrees in business, management, and marketing (which includes hospitality management) cost around $10,400 per year in 2019-2020. That's nearly $42,000 for a four-year program.
Fortunately, financial aid like grants and scholarships can reduce the cost to around $9,200 yearly — $37,000 total for a four-year degree.
Remember that this data is based on the 2019-2020 school year. Also, tuition rates vary based on your in-state vs. out-of-state status and whether you attend a public or private college.
For example, in-person students without financial aid paid around $25,000 more for their bachelor's in hospitality management degrees than online students during the 2019-2020 school year.
If you're interested in learning more about tuition rates and financial aid, make sure to visit your desired school's website. There, you can find detailed information or contact details for the relevant office or person who can answer your questions.
Find Financial Aid for Your Hospitality Degree
How Long Does It Take to Get a Hospitality Management Degree?
Typical # of Credits
120 Credits
Typical Program Length
4 Years
Unless you enroll in an accelerated bachelor's program, you'll spend around four years completing your online hospitality management degree program as a full-time student.
Most bachelor's programs require students to earn 120 credits, equaling around 30 credits per year. You can speed up this timeline by taking summer classes, transferring credits, and earning credit for life and work experience.
What Can You Do With a Hospitality Management Degree?
You'll be prepped to work in hospitality fields spanning food, lodging, experiences, and more. Food service managers, for example, are responsible for daily restaurant, bar, or other operations. According to the BLS, these professionals earned a median annual salary of $65,310 in May 2024.
You can also work as a lodging manager, ensuring that guests have a satisfying experience. Lodging managers earned a median of $68,130 per year in May 2024, per the BLS.
Maybe you want to work at a venue overseeing weddings, parties, or other events. As of May 2024, event planners earned a median annual wage of $59,440.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $65,310 | Oversee restaurant staff and operations to help improve performance and increase profitability. |
| Lodging Managers | $68,130 | Manage guests' experience, increasing efficiency and profitability. |
| Event Planners | $59,440 | Coordinate, launch, and manage conferences, trade shows, festivals, and other events, ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently. |
Is a Hospitality Management Degree Worth It?
A hospitality management degree can be worthwhile if you want to develop business and customer service skills that can open leadership opportunities within the industry.
Beyond the skills you'll learn, you may also want to consider the degree's return on investment. You can determine this by comparing the cost of your degree against the salary you expect to earn once you graduate.
The average starting salary for people with bachelor's degrees in hospitality management was around $48,000 in 2023, per the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). However, remember that your wages will vary depending on location, experience level, and the particular sector you work in.
The degree also opens the door to other careers outside the hospitality field. You'll also be equipped with business, management, and entrepreneurship education, making it easier to transfer into other business and leadership careers.
Education Beyond a Bachelor's Degree
After you earn a bachelor's, you can go after an advanced degree, such as a master of science in hospitality management, a master of management in hospitality, or a master's in hospitality administration.
With a master's degree, you can earn a higher starting salary since these programs provide further industry knowledge and networking opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hospitality Management Degrees
A bachelor's degree in hospitality management teaches the skills to oversee the daily operations of hotels, restaurants, casinos, resorts, and more. While studying, you'll learn about organizational marketing, finances, law, revenue management, strategic planning, and human resources.
