An online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management can spark a rewarding career in today’s tourism industry. While hospitality management may not be the most dominant business major, these professionals are absolutely essential in the lives of travelers in need of comfortable lodging, delicious restaurants, and overall adventure. The market for this career is global, and the rate of growth in fields such as lodging management (9%) and food service management (15%) is well above the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some entry-level hospitality careers do not require more than a high school diploma, but many of the best jobs in hospitality, such as event planning, sales, and marketing management require at least a bachelor’s degree. And for those already working in the industry who are seeking a promotion, a pay raise or a career change, online college programs provide the flexibility, affordability, and academic stature to meet those professional goals.
An online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management can raise your salary, but can cost a small fortune—with some programs charging over $98,000! Clearly, it pays to do your research before choosing an online hospitality management degree.
GetEducated compared 43 bachelor’s programs in hospitality management from 38 regionally accredited online schools to create this ranking. Below is our editorially independent list of the 18 Best Buys for an affordable online hospitality management degree. Each online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management program costs less than the national average.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$49,600
Least Expensive: University of North Carolina at Greensboro ~$21,413.32
Most Expensive: Everglades University ~$98,135.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. The online hospitality management degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | (NC) | $21,413.32 $39,101.32 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | North Carolina Central University | (NC) | $23,509.76 $74,698.24 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Utah Valley University | (UT) | $24,040.00 $68,368.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $27,225.60 | All Students |
5 | Eastern New Mexico University | (NM) | $28,247.00 $36,407.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Florida International University | (FL) | $28,286.72 $42,333.92 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Ohio University | (OH) | $29,064.00 $29,424.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Southern Utah University | (UT) | $31,693.00 | All Students |
9 | University of the Potomac | (DC) | $33,500.00 | All Students |
10 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | (OK) | $36,332.00 | All Students |
11 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $36,900.00 $30,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
12 | South College | (TN) | $38,400.00 | All Students |
13 | University of North Alabama | (AL) | $42,000.00 | All Students |
14 | Washington State University | (WA) | $43,320.00 $48,288.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | West Virginia University | (WV) | $45,120.00 $48,720.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | New Mexico State University | (NM) | $45,624.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
17 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | (IL) | $47,286.00 | All Students |
18 | The University of Alabama | (AL) | $47,400.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Kentucky University | (KY) | $50,040.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Troy University | (AL) | $52,560.00 | All Students | |
Belhaven University | (MS) | $54,700.00 $34,240.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Northern Arizona University | (AZ) | $56,264.00 | All Students | |
Bellevue University | (NE) | $56,710.00 $33,850.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Madonna University | (MI) | $57,100.00 | All Students | |
University of the Southwest | (NM) | $57,200.00 | All Students | |
Warner University | (FL) | $58,475.00 | All Students | |
Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $59,400.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $59,628.00 | All Students | |
Oregon State University | (OR) | $64,070.00 | All Students | |
Charleston Southern University | (SC) | $64,490.00 | All Students | |
Monroe University | (NY) | $65,704.00 | All Students | |
Lipscomb University | (TN) | $66,150.00 | All Students | |
ECPI University | (VA) | $70,736.00 | All Students | |
Everglades University | (FL) | $98,135.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
AACSB AACSB International
IACBE International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online bachelor degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a bachelor’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for hospitality management may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management
If you are an organized, patient, detail-oriented person, a career in hospitality management could be the right choice. At its core, hospitality management is simply ensuring that travelers and guests have a positive experience. From family vacations to business trips to afternoons at a spa to casual lunches at the local diner, people expect to have a comfortable, enjoyable experience wherever they spend their money. People trained in hospitality management know how to deliver this experience.
What to Expect from a Hospitality Degree
These programs include a variety of classes that prepare you for a job in hospitality. After graduation, you’ll have the necessary skills to work at resorts, golf courses, restaurants, and a wide variety of entertainment, leisure, recreation, and vacation-related organizations.
People who graduate with an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management understand the many details that go into hotels, resorts, and leisure-based facilities. They are skilled in everything from housekeeping to bookkeeping; they know how to create interesting menus that can be made to scale, and how to deliver a personal experience to each and every customer.
These programs deliver a well-rounded business education. They teach the fundamentals of customer service, as well as aspects of accounting, marketing, and statistics, which are all fundamental to any business career. Because these are four-year bachelor’s degrees, you can expect a variety of general education requirements. These will include broadly-ranging topics such as communication, mathematics, science, and ethics.
The specific classes you complete in an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management will vary, but core classes will likely include hotel and lodging management, food and beverage operations, hotel revenue, and marketing for hotels.
There will also be classes that apply to all business degrees, not just hospitality. These may include strategic management, human resources, and economics.
Potential Careers after an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management
After graduating with a degree in hospitality, you’ll be prepared for careers in many different areas. You could work for hotel and lodging companies, or you could use your skills in the restaurant and food-service industries. It’s also possible to use your education to help groups that provide shelter and food to people from all walks of live.
Many graduates of these programs also work in the tourism industry. This could mean employment at theme parks, cruise lines, airlines, and business travel. Some will also use their education to help the government promote the hospitality and tourism industry. After graduation, you could contribute to local chambers of commerce or convention bureaus.
Lodging Manager
- Salary: $56,670
- Education: High school diploma
- Experience: Five years or less
Lodging managers are skilled professionals who ensure a customer or guest has a positive experience at a hotel, motel, or resort. Essentially, they ensure the facility runs smoothly and that guests have everything they need.
While the minimum education for a lodging manager is a high school diploma or equivalent, a degree in hospitality will certainly help your longterm success. You’ll not only be a more attractive job candidate, you’ll likely command a higher salary if you have a strong education. Generally speaking, the more services a hotel or resort offers, the more education you’ll need. So if you want to work for a high-end hotel that offers a myriad of services, you’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management.
Facilities Manager
A facilities manager is responsible for the direction and coordination of organizations. They are managers who have many different duties, including record-keeping, mail distribution, and the overall upkeep of an office. They may manage clerical staff, oversee maintenance, and make sure a facility has the care it needs.
These programs also have minimal education requirements, but a bachelor’s degree is a strong way to improve your longterm career. With an online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, you’ll have a better chance of being hired by one of the top employers in the nation.
Requirements to Working in Hospitality Management
To work in hospitality management, or any type of business management, you won’t need to meet licensing requirements. With very few exceptions, there are no government-mandated licenses.
There are, however, many certifications that can improve your chances of landing a top-quality position. For lodging managers, you could complete the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA), a program that is offered through American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI).