If you are looking for a fast-paced, people-centered career with opportunities for growth and solid salary options, hospitality management may be the right choice for you. The hospitality management industry is growing much faster than the general economy, so graduates of programs in the field are likely to find a broad range of positions available to them.
In order to find the cheapest online hospitality management programs, there are a few factors you must consider. In this article, we’ll examine whether this degree is worth it and why you might want to take it online rather than on campus.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
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How we rank schools
Our list features the Cheapest Online Hospitality Management degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
Best 30 Cheapest Online Hospitality Management Degree Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
University of the Southwest
Intelligent Score: 99.31In-state: $16,000
Out-of-state: $16,000
In-state: $22,500
Out-of-state: $22,500
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$470
Online
International Accreditation Council for Business Education
120
Fort Hays State University
Intelligent Score: 97.59In-state: $4,140
Out-of-state: $14,580
In-state: $3,726
Out-of-state: $3,726
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$243
Online
Higher Learning Commission
124
Ohio University
Intelligent Score: 96.89In-state: $27,574
Out-of-state: $38,254
In-state: $18,138
Out-of-state: $18,138
SAT: 1070-1290
ACT: 22-27
Resident: $307
Non-Resident: $312
Online
Higher Learning Commission
120.0
Utah Valley University
Intelligent Score: 95.69In-state: $5,192
Out-of-state: $16,092
In-state: $8,541
Out-of-state: $8,541
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $442
Non-Resident: $1,261
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
120.0
Florida International University
Intelligent Score: 95.47In-state: $4,721
Out-of-state: $16,529
In-state: $8,912
Out-of-state: $8,912
SAT: 1110-1260
ACT: 23-29
Resident: $236
Non-Resident: $649
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
120.0
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Intelligent Score: 94.77In-state: $6,240
Out-of-state: $14,880
In-state: $4,716
Out-of-state: $4,716
SAT: 880-1090
ACT: 17-23
$306
Online
Higher Learning Commission
124
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Intelligent Score: 94.12In-state: $7,019
Out-of-state: $34,198
In-state: $10,552
Out-of-state: $10,552
SAT: 1280-1490
ACT: 28-33
Resident: $184
Non-Resident: $866
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
120
North Carolina Central University
Intelligent Score: 93.85In-state: $3,728
Out-of-state: $16,435
In-state: $4,740
Out-of-state: $4,740
SAT: 850-1010
ACT: 15-19
Resident: $185
Non-Resident: $728
Online
Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
121.0
University of Central Florida
Intelligent Score: 93.79In-state: $4,478
Out-of-state: $19,810
In-state: $6,916
Out-of-state: $6,916
SAT: 1160-1340
ACT: 25-30
Resident: $179
Non-Resident: $716
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
120.0
University of Alabama
Intelligent Score: 92.62In-state: $10,780
Out-of-state: $30,250
In-state: $10,780
Out-of-state: $10,780
SAT: 1070-1330
ACT: 23-31
$385
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
120
Oregon State University
Intelligent Score: 88.71In-state: $9,846
Out-of-state: $29,445
In-state: $13,257
Out-of-state: $13,257
SAT: 1080-1310
ACT: 21-29
$392
Online
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
180
Eastern New Mexico University
Intelligent Score: 88.08In-state: $4,074
Out-of-state: $6,114
In-state: $5,351
Out-of-state: $5,351
SAT: 950-1160
ACT: 17-23
Resident: $175
Non-Resident: $257
Online
Higher Learning Commission
120.0
Johnson & Wales University
Intelligent Score: 87.48In-state: $34,376
Out-of-state: $34,376
In-state: $14,148
Out-of-state: $14,148
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$495
Online
Higher Learning Commission
122
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Intelligent Score: 87.25In-state: $9,591
Out-of-state: $9,591
In-state: $11,268
Out-of-state: $11,268
SAT: 930-1180
ACT: 20-27
$321
Online
Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
120
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Intelligent Score: 87.09In-state: $7,901
Out-of-state: $23,554
In-state: $5,657
Out-of-state: $5,657
SAT: 1060-1260
ACT: 20-26
$281
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
120
West Virginia University
Intelligent Score: 86.3In-state: $8,976
Out-of-state: $25,320
In-state: $10,134
Out-of-state: $10,134
SAT: 1030-1230
ACT: 21-27
$475
Online
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
120
Southern Utah University
Intelligent Score: 85.8In-state: $6,006
Out-of-state: $19,822
In-state: $7,574
Out-of-state: $7,574
SAT: 1030-1220
ACT: 21-27
$300
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
120
University of West Florida
Intelligent Score: 85.72In-state: $3,735
Out-of-state: $16,004
In-state: $7,088
Out-of-state: $7,088
SAT: 1060-1230
ACT: 21-27
$218
Online
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
120
How Much Do Hospitality Management Degree Programs Usually Cost?
The cost of a hospitality management program will vary significantly from school to school. Most schools have a credit hour-based tuition system, where earning a bachelor’s degree requires completing about 120 credit hours.
Two primary factors play a significant role in what you pay: first, whether you choose a private or public institution, and second, whether you select a school in the state where you live or in a different state.
Public institutions tend to be subsidized by local, state, and federal government funding and so can afford to charge less for tuition. According to U.S. News & World Report, undergraduate tuition and fees at public institutions averaged $10,338 for in-state students in 2021-22, while private school students paid a substantially higher $38,185. However, this can be misleading because private college students are frequently offered substantial financial aid packages, so if you are set on attending a private school, don’t assume it will be out of your reach financially.
What about in-state vs. out-of-state tuition? Earning your degree online opens your choices up to any institution in the U.S., but there are benefits to choosing a school that is in your state of residence. For example, undergraduate tuition and fees for the hospitality management program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro come to $7,498 a year for North Carolina residents in 2022. However, out-of-state students wishing to attend this highly-rated program pay $22,657 a year in tuition and fees. Your own costs may vary if you take advantage of financial aid opportunities, but the advantage is with students who call North Carolina home.
In addition to tuition, most schools charge additional fees, including technology fees, if you are taking your courses online. So, to get a full picture of your costs, you’ll need to add together tuition and additional fees. Check out the website of any school you are interested in to see their fees. These should be listed on the financial aid page. If not, ask an admissions counselor to give you a complete picture of what you would be paying.
Is This Degree Worth It?
If you are wondering whether a degree in hospitality management is worth it, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many positions in this sector are growing much faster than the economy as a whole.
Consider lodging managers, for example, who ensure guests have a pleasant experience at hotels and other facilities. BLS data shows that the need for people who can do this work is growing at a rate of 18 percent, much faster than average, with nearly 10,000 new professionals needed by 2031. The median pay for a lodging manager is $59,430 a year, but a qualified manager can make much more over time, with the top ten percent earning six-figure salaries.
Note that although some hospitality management jobs are open to those with a high school diploma, earning an undergraduate, or even a graduate, degree is imperative to advance in the field. Employers are more likely to place you in higher-level positions, such as moving you from front-end manager to general manager, if you have your bachelor’s degree.
Should You Earn Your Degree Online?
There are both advantages and challenges to earning your degree online. One of the significant advantages is the increased flexibility of online courses, especially if they are taught asynchronously, meaning you can attend the classes when it is convenient for you. This makes online education a good choice for those who work full-time or have other duties, such as family commitments.
The lack of a commute is another benefit. You will save money on gas and parking fees, as well as time that would be spent driving to and from classes several times a week. You have the flexibility to attend your classes from any location of your choice, be it your home office, dining room table, or a nearby coffee shop. As long as you can get an internet signal, you should be able to sign on for your coursework.
A factor that can be either an advantage or a disadvantage is that online classes are best taken by those with a strong drive to earn their degree and a high level of motivation. After all, you will not have a professor standing over you in class to ensure that you’re doing your work. You might prefer an on-campus program if you learn through regular encouragement and support from your professors and peers.
You may also miss out on some of the classic “college experiences,” such as attending school sporting events or grabbing coffee with your peers after class. If those non-class experiences are important to you, then a more traditional program might be the right choice.
This is not to say you won’t be able to interact with others. Professors in online programs generally have virtual office hours and are happy to help motivated students succeed in their classes. And although it may be somewhat more challenging to connect with your fellow students, it is possible to work together on group projects or initiate group study sessions when necessary through the use of your program’s technology.
In the end, only you can determine if you are the sort of person who will thrive in an online hospitality management program. If you find the right program at a reasonable cost, you will likely succeed in your classes and begin a rewarding professional career.
Our Research
This list features some of the country’s cheapest online hospitality management degree programs. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution, either public or private, with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of the cheapest online hospitality management degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.