Earning a master’s in hospitality management online can boost your employability and lead to better leadership positions in the business field. These accessible programs are designed for working adults, with benefits ranging from flexible scheduling to career-centric courses that prioritize operations, leadership and regulation. If you have a strong business background with detailed knowledge of industries from food service to entertainment or lodging, an online hospitality degree is a practical step toward the salary you deserve and the responsibilities you want. The top earners in lodging management can make around $108,000 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and hospitality management careers are projected to grow at an above average rate throughout the next ten years.
A master’s in hospitality management online can lead to a fulfilling and fun career working in tourism but can cost a pretty penny. With a $41,000 difference between the most affordable and most expensive programs, it pays to do your research before choosing a master’s in hospitality management online!
GetEducated compared 22 master’s degrees in hospitality management from 20 regionally accredited online schools to create this ‘Best Buy’ list. Our rankings reveal the most affordable options in the United States—10 master’s in hospitality management online for under $22,100.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$22,100
Least Expensive: East Carolina University ~$8,673.30
Most Expensive: University of Southern California ~$49,007
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 master’s in hospitality management online. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Master’s in Hospitality Management Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Carolina University | (NC) | $8,673.30 $30,588.30 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | University of Central Florida | (FL) | $10,801.56 $38,006.76 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | (NV) | $12,980.00 $23,060.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | University of North Texas | (TX) | $13,025.20 $19,224.76 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | The University of Alabama | (AL) | $13,200.00 | All Students |
6 | University of New Orleans | (LA) | $15,052.00 | All Students |
7 | Kent State University | (OH) | $16,440.00 $16,740.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | (NC) | $16,525.17 $47,502.85 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | University of Mississippi | (MS) | $17,145.00 | All Students |
10 | California State University-East Bay | (CA) | $21,072.60 $32,952.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado State University | (CO) | $22,598.00 | All Students | |
Clemson University | (SC) | $23,789.00 | All Students | |
University of Kentucky | (KY) | $24,359.00 | All Students | |
Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $24,510.00 | All Students | |
Florida International University | (FL) | $24,750.00 | All Students | |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | (IL) | $25,632.00 | All Students | |
Purdue University | (IN) | $28,903.40 $31,538.40 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Temple University | (PA) | $30,208.00 | All Students | |
San Diego State University | (CA) | $30,510.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $49,007.00 | 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
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited master’s in hospitality management online. 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 master 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 master’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 master’s in hospitality management online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Master’s in Hospitality Management Online
If you want to take your management career to new heights, these degrees are an excellent choice. In these programs, you’ll gain numerous skills that help you lead businesses, not only in the hospitality industry, but in virtually any sector of the economy.
What You Should Expect from a Master’s in Hospitality Management
Hospitality management is a far-reaching field that oversees the day-to-day and longterm operations of the hospitality industry. By “hospitality industry,” we don’t just mean hotels and resorts. This term can also include restaurants, tourist destinations, theme parks, spas, travel companies, and more.
A master’s in hospitality management online will build your management skills with a focus on the hospitality industry. You’ll learn how to manage staff so they deliver the finest experience to guests; you’ll learn to use technology to assist with scheduling; you’ll learn how tourism impacts the global economy.
Because these are master’s degrees, you’ll need previous academic experience. You’ll not only need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you’ll likely need to meet GPA requirements. Most master’s programs have GPA requirements around 3.0.
There are many different course you’ll take throughout your studies. Some of these will apply to business and management in general, while others will apply directly to hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses. Your courses may include accounting, budgeting, and management practices, which can be useful for any career, not just hospitality.
Because the restaurant industry is a major part of hospitality, you’ll likely take a few courses that study food and drink service, food health, and food-related topics. Classes could fall under nutrition, dining, food safety, and even alcohol service.
For hospitality-focused classes, your courses may include management in the hotel industry, booking guests, finances for hospitality companies, and marketing for the tourism industry.
Careers With a Master’s in Hospitality Management Online
Facilities Manager
- Salary: $98,890
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: Five years or less
Facilities managers are responsible for maintaining the quality and efficiency of a building. This can include the internal operations within the building, and can also encompass coordination of maintenance and repairs. You may oversee renovation projects, monitor safety measures, and coordinate events within the facility.
To become a facilities manager, you only need a bachelor’s degree. However, a master’s degree in hospitality management will teach you how to juggle the numerous details of a project or event, which will be critical in this career.
Fundraising Manager
- Salary: $118,430
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: Five years or more
As a public relations manager, you will guide efforts to generate money for a certain group or cause. You’ll be responsible for developing a group’s public image and using a variety of techniques to convince citizens and companies to make donations. Your work may include face-to-face meetings, as well as applying for grants.
Your master’s degree in hospitality management will provide an excellent background for this career, but you may need to supplement your education with classes that directly relate to fundraising. Communications, public relations, and non-profit management could also be a benefit to this career.
This is one of the highest-paying careers in management, and its also one of the fastest-growing careers in the marketplace. Hospitality managers are expected to see a job growth of 13% between 2020 and 2030, far outpacing the estimated total for all occupations, which is 8%. This means you’ll not only have high earnings, you’ll work in an area with plenty of opportunities.
Career Requirements for Hospitality Management
To work in hospitality management or management in general, you likely won’t need any licensing. However, advanced certifications from leading organizations could significantly boost your career. A facilities manager could likely enhance their earning potential by completing certification through the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). These certifications will build your knowledge and make you a strong job candidate.
People who want to work as a fundraising manager may complete certification through the CFRE International, which offers the Certified Fund Raising Executive program.
If your hospitality career sees you working with food, you may need certification or training on food safety. Food safety exams such as Food Protection Manager Certification (FPMC) could be required, but this will depend on the nature of your position. You may study food safety during a master’s in hospitality management online, but these certifications will strengthen your understanding of this important topic.
Regardless of the specific position, if you plan to work in management, you’ll need experience. Managers are often the highest-paid professionals within a company, and they are expected to have years of experience, working their way through the business while building their knowledge of the company and the industry.