Top 20 Schools For A Hospitality Degree in 2024

Penn State University allows its Hospitality students to earn a Bachelor’s of Science while choosing from one of the three specializations; Institutional, Restaurant, or Hotel Management. Areas of concentration that can be included in a student’s studies are:

• financial management
• marketing
• hospitality management information systems
• human resource management

However, students also have the option of simply gain a general overall of hospitality as a profession.

The school believes in providing students with hands-on experiences. They can get them by working at the on-campus Cafe Laura, as well as at the Food Decisions Resource Laboratory. While there, students can choose to earn an STR Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics or the National Restaurant Association ServSafe Certification.

Ohio State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality. Students who earn this degree can work in tourism or other similar services. The Hospitality Management Industry Advisory Board offers students the opportunity to complete an internship. Every student must complete at least one advanced internship during their senior year in order to be able to graduate. But prior to their senior year, students can choose to complete an internship in a lodging setting or a restaurant setting.

In addition, by working closely with the Executive Planning Team they actively participate in event planning for Hospitality Tours, Big Dish, and Hospitality Listens.

Students are also encouraged to complete a study abroad session during their time at the university. The study takes place in Indonesia. Students get the opportunity to learn how tourism impacts the economics and social makeup of Indonesia, as well as how it impacts the local environment.

Students who attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas can earn a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. They have the option of choosing one of the following four concentrations:

• PGA Golf Management
• Gaming Management
• Restaurant Management
• Meeting & Events

Before graduation, students complete an internship in which they practice their leadership and managerial skills. Collectively they must have had 1,000 hours of work experience in order to receive their degree.

The School of Resort & Hospitality Management at Florida Gulf Coast University offers a Bachelor of Science in Resort & Hospitality Administration that teaches students how to run private clubs and resorts. Students can choose from four different management specializations; Lodging, Event, Food and Beverage, and Restaurant and Club.

Registered students are invited to take advantage of Sugden Hall, which houses facilities such as:

• Ballroom Event Management Lab
• Food Production and Restaurant Lab
• Prototype Spa w/Therapy Room
• Wine and Food Tasting Lab

Students can gain real work experience in these facilities during their time in the program.

The school also offers students access to the following organizations:

• Club Managers Association of America
• Hospitality Management Association
• National Association For Catering and Events
• National Society of Minorities In Hospitality

By joining these organizations students have many opportunities to network with those already established in the industry.

Iowa State University students that want to work in Hospitality study in the Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management. Much of their education takes place in the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom. The dining facility has more than 100 seats where students complete the Quantity Food Production and Service Management Experience class. Students are tasked with serving their peers, as well as visitors to the school and its faculty and staff.

Among the best in Illinois is the Manfred Steinfeld program, at Roosevelt University. Those who complete the program under the Heller College of Business earn a Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Students can choose one of the five following concentrations:

• Meeting and Event Management
• Sports Hospitality
• Lodging Management
• Tourism Administration
• Food and Beverage Management

These diverse concentrations allow students to prepare for a variety of careers within the industry.

The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management. The programs are business-focused, with an emphasis on experiential learning, and students have options to:

Choose a Minor in:

• Event Management

Choose a Concentration in:

• Club Management

Choose an Area of Focus in:

• Food and Beverage Management
• Hotel and Resort Management
• Tourism Management
• Meetings, Expositions, Events and Conferences Management

All students graduate with career-related work experience at the supervisory level as part of their degree. Classes, led by an award-winning and diverse faculty, provide opportunities to engage in real-world activities, where students are involved in managing events like festivals, weddings, conferences and world-renowned golf tournaments.

Students can work at the McCutchen House, where they run a full-service restaurant open to the public, that serves as the College’s restaurant management laboratory. The College also boasts a new, cutting edge facility – The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Culinary Laboratory – that provides students with advanced knowledge in the food and beverage industries.

St. Joseph’s College runs The Institute For Hospitality and Tourism Management, which often hosts open symposiums that anyone can attend. But students can also study for a Bachelor of Science and choose one of three specializations within the hospitality industry. Their choices are Tourism Management, Hotel Management, and Health Care Hospitality.

The College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources at the University of Missouri offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. There are four areas of concentration students have to choose from; Sports Venue, Conference and Event, Lodging, and Food and Beverage Management.

Students get hands-on experience by working closely with Campus Dining Services and the University Club. They can also gain experience working at the college’s Cafe at Eckles, which is entirely run by students in the program. During their studies, students have access to a practice lab where they can research subjects such as consumers’ food habits.

Away from campus, students can work at entertainment and sports organizations, including MU Event Production Services and Mizzou Athletics.

At Oklahoma State University, students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration when they major in Hospitality and Tourism Management. The four concentrations available to students are Event, Lodging, Tourism, and Food and Beverage Management. The department’s learning labs boast these useful amenities for students:

• Quick-Service Restaurant Lab
• Fine Dining Lab Restaurant
• Beverage Education Center
• Quantity Foods Kitchen

Students also have the opportunity to work at local events such as Hospitality Days, the Distinguished Chef Series, Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma, and Wine Forum of Oklahoma.

Michigan State University students can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business from the school’s Broad College of Business. The curriculum focuses on hospitality, integrative studies, and business. Before graduating, students must complete two internships in the field.

Though it is not a requirement, students are also encouraged to take advantage of the school’s Hospitality Association. This gives them access to organizations that help support the best interests of the industry.

At the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, students have a choice between six different concentrations when they study towards a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management. Those concentrations are:

• Club
• Event
• Food and Beverage
• Human Resources
• Lodging
• Tourism

With so many choices, students have the freedom to tailor their education to their desired career path.

The School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University offers a Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management. Students can choose one of three specializations for their degree; Event Leadership, Hospitality Operations, and Destination Management. Those who are interested in going even further have the option of studying for their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the same time.

At California State University Long Beach, students can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management. Students that earn this degree are prepared to excel as managers and leaders in a multitude of hospitality related industries including: Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts, Amusement parks, Stadiums, Event venues, and more.

The program provides a broad-based foundation in both academic and professional courses and includes hands-on practical experience.

The College of Merchandising, Hospitality & Tourism at the University of North Texas offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. On the school’s campus lies The Club, a student-run restaurant at The Club. Students serve the general public, allowing them to practice their skills in a real-world setting. Other perks of studying hospitality at the University of North Texas include its Company Showcase Program. Students can also attend the school’s Executive-in-Residence Lecture Series.

Every year the school holds the Hospitality Career Expo for students enrolled in the program. More than 60 companies are available for students to interview with. One-on-one meetings allow students to network with local professionals in their field.