Best 15 Hotel and Restaurant Management Degree Programs in 2024

The hospitality management program at Penn State provides students with a well-rounded education, focusing on leadership, business, and communication. Graduates of the program don’t just know how to run a restaurant or a hotel – they know how to make their business excel. Students in the program have the option of minoring in entrepreneurship and innovation, setting themselves up to be leaders in the industry.

Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, under the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, offers students a well-rounded education that emphasizes both the management and business aspects of the hospitality industry. Each freshman class in the hotel administration program has 160 students or fewer, allowing students to form long-lasting connections with their classmates that provide networking opportunities in the future.

Students who enroll in Michigan State’s hospitality business program gain real-world experience through two required internships and participate in three major hospitality events each year. Graduates emerge from MSU ready to take on roles as club managers, hotel general managers, financial analysts, sales directors, and more.

At Washington State University’s School of Hospitality Business Management, students who choose to earn a bachelor of arts in hospitality business management emerge prepared to become leaders in their chosen industry. Throughout their education, students are required to work at least 1,000 hours in the hospitality industry, allowing them to become well-versed in the industry secrets of restaurants and hotels.

At U of H’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, 92% of students have job offers upon graduation. While culinary experience is not a requirement for admission to the program, many students come to U of H before or after going through culinary school to learn more about the business side of the industry.

Students who earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Iowa State emerge with the confidence they need to plan events and provide guests with unforgettable experiences. Graduates are prepared to go into business on their own or to work as a vital part of an already established hotel and/or restaurant management operation.

In the Las Vegas area, there is no shortage of hotel, restaurant, and casino businesses in which students can gain the experience they need to graduate ready to take on the world of hospitality. In the bachelor of science in hospitality management program at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, students make up 22 credits of the program through electives, allowing each student to tailor the program to meet their needs.

Orlando, Florida is the top tourist destination in the country. Students at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management have myriad opportunities to experience different facets of the hospitality industry. World-class faculty provide students with an education based on their real-life experiences in the hospitality field and work to ensure that graduates are fully ready to take on leadership positions within their chosen sector of the hospitality industry.

Drexel’s bachelor of science in hospitality management program allows students to learn how to lead a team in restaurants, casinos, hotels, event planning, and more. Drexel recognizes the importance of forming connections in the hospitality industry and has programs designed to help students begin to grow their network before they graduate.

NYU’s bachelor of science in hotel and tourism management doesn’t just connect students with world-class faculty – the program also allows students to enjoy gaining experience in one of the most cutting edge culinary meccas in the world. Guest speakers, industry events, and frequent visits to restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality service businesses allow students to explore many facets of the hospitality industry.

The University of Delaware’s Hospitality Business Management students learn to deliver superior experiences and services through both the classroom and experience driven living at the award winning Vita Nova fine-dining restaurant and the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.  Whether you manage a hotel, food and beverage operation or country club; own a restaurant or plan weddings and conferences; social media/marketing; or focused on real estate/property management, you will be well equipped for a rewarding career.

At GSU’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration, students graduate from the program prepared to become leaders in the industry. All faculty members have real-world hospitality experience and pass on the hard-learned lessons from their time in hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses to their students.

The bachelor of science in hospitality management program at the University of South Carolina provides many exciting opportunities for students who are ready to explore the world of hospitality on a global scale. Students have study abroad and exchange options that can widen their culinary points of view, while also teaching them how to relate with different cultures.

•  Tuition includes yearly technology fee.

Hospitality and tourism management students get to benefit from OSU’s on-campus learning labs, providing a hands-on learning experience with the same problems they’ll face in the real world. 94% of graduating seniors enrolled in graduate schools, had job offers or became employed within three months after graduation. Student-led events and study abroad opportunities make OSU’s hotel and tourism management program a great option for students who are ready to see all that the world of hospitality and tourism has to offer.

The hospitality and tourism management undergraduate major at Purdue provides students with both the classroom education and hands-on experience that they need to emerge ready to take on the sometimes-stressful challenges of the hospitality industry. Faculty with real-world experience lend lessons learned during their time in the industry to students in their classrooms. Students are required to take part in at least two paid internships, providing them with the experience they need to take on a leadership role after they graduate.