College graduates who have earned a master’s in hospitality management are in demand. Many employers are searching for candidates who have the leadership, communication, and business-savvy skills that are learned through this degree.
If this is a degree that interests you and your career goals, keep reading to find out our top 20 colleges that offer masters degree in hospitality management.
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida |
2 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida |
3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg, Virginia |
4 | Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
5 | University of California | Berkeley, California |
Top 20 Master’s in Hospitality Management Programs
University of South Florida
As the fastest growing university in the nation, the University of South Florida has soared from the number 181st spot among all universities to number 103. This institution offers a Master of Science degree in Hospitality Management that will better prepare its students to take on the challenges the hospitality industry faces. The program requires 30 credits to graduate.
University of Central Florida
Our second top school for hospitality management also comes from the great state of Florida. The University of Central Florida can be found in Orlando, Florida, and is a large public university, with 9,654 graduate students enrolled. It has been ranked as one of the Top 20 Most Innovative Colleges and a Best-Value College by Forbes and The Princeton Review.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a small, public institution that contains at least 170 graduate degree programs, including one in Hospitality Management. This Blacksburg, Virginia college will provide students the opportunity to get their hands dirty with first-hand career experience through one of their internship programs, field studies, and interactions with top industry experts.
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University has been the college of choice among students from over 100 different countries. This mid-size school has some famous alumni, including Garth Brooks, Barry Sanders, Anita Hill, and T. Boone Pickens. The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management teaches its students how to use critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
University of California
The Riverside campus of the prestigious University of California has been pioneers in the fields of economy, social impact, and science for more than 150 years. It has been ranked number 12 among all universities, as well as being in the top 1% of all world universities. The Tourism and Hospitality Management program requires 23 credits to graduate and will teach a broad spectrum of subjects, including business, marketing, and event planning.
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Iowa State University
Founded in 1858, Iowa State University is a public, land-grant institution that offers more than 800 student organizations, internships, and study abroad programs. This large college is located in Ames, Iowa, and was described by previous students as a university that “prepared me for the real world.”
George Washington University
George Washington University is a private institution located in Washington, DC. It is a large university that strives to educate students with world-class faculty, high-impact research, and distinguished graduate programs. The Hospitality Management Master’s degree will provide students with investment advice in hotel development, as well as management techniques to solve some of the world’s toughest issues.
University of North Texas
Ranked as one of only 16 Carnegie-ranked Tier One research institutions designated as a Hispanic-serving university, the University of North Texas is known for its culturally diverse campus life. This college has become highly ranked by numerous publications, including being listed as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys and having 89 academic programs rank among the nation’s Top 100.
Florida International University
Florida International University has grown its reputation across the United States as one of the Top 50 Public Research Universities, with over $200 million in annual expenditures. This Miami, FL school offers a Master’s degree in Hospitality Management that has been ranked as one of the Top Hospitality Schools in the World as a result of its dedicated faculty and world-class curriculum.
Boston University
With over 15,000 students from more than 130 countries, Boston University has gained national recognition as one of the Most Innovative Universities. Due to the fact that BU has connections to prominent hospitality companies, as well as industry professionals who have helped the students by providing career advice and hands-on internship opportunities.
University of Delaware
With a history that dates back as far as the year 1743, the University of Delaware is one of the oldest universities in America. The Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics offers a Hospitality Business Management degree that has been named one of the top ten programs in the U.S. It is a 30-credit program that will prepare students to use analytical and operational skills to help create a thriving economic future for the hospitality industry. The program also includes a 1-week “Industry Immersion Program” of workshops by leading industry professionals.
Temple University
Founded in 1884, Temple University is a top-tier public research institution that is located in Philadelphia. Although there are almost 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at this college, class sizes are small, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. The Hospitality Management program concentrates on three areas: event management, hospitality operations management, and tourism and hospitality marketing. It can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis and is expected to be completed in four years.
University of Houston
With 36 research centers, over 2,600 faculty members, 108 master’s degrees, and more than 47,000 students, the University of Houston continues to flourish as one of the best colleges in America. The graduate programs from UH were described by previous students as competitive and intense, while the campus atmosphere was described as friendly.
Morgan State University
Morgan State University began in the year 1867 as a private university and was on a mission to train young men in ministry. Since then, it has become a mid-sized, preeminent public urban research university that has educated tens of thousands of men and women. This Baltimore-based institution provides a hospitality management master’s degree that complies with the Associate to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in order to create a strict, effective education for graduate students.
Lasell University
Lasell University is a private institution that can be found in the Boston area. It has small class sizes, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1, as well as offering online and blended course formats to fit the schedules and needs of all students. The Hospitality and Event Management graduate program can be completed in as little as 12 months and is taught by industry professionals that have the knowledge and skills to lead graduates down a successful career path after graduation.
Drexel University
Drexel University began in 1891 as a non-degree-granting institution, but offered its first bachelor’s degree in 1914 and organized the 18 departments into four schools. This private, large university has since grown from 4 schools to 15. The students at this institution are described as driven, intellectual, and organized, while the campus is described as competitive and intense. It’s the perfect atmosphere for those who take their education seriously and want to have an edge up on the industry.
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Founded in 1942, Fairleigh Dickinson University is the largest private university in New Jersey, with over 11,000 students from 32 states and 72 countries. This college has been ranked as one of the Top 50 in the North Region, number 16 in Best Value Schools, and was named one of “The Best Colleges For Your Money.” Students will have an edge over the competition among graduating because they will be able to join the network of more than 3,000 alumni who can serve has connections in the hospitality industry. The degree can also be completed in as little as 12 months.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology has been educating students on its Rochester, New York campus since 1829. Not only is this a culturally diverse school with over 19,000 students and 135,000 graduates from all 50 states and more than 100 nations, but it has also been internationally recognized for its exceptional education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. To complete the Master of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, a minimum of 30 credits are required and it can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.
University of South Carolina
What began as South Carolina College in 1801 as a way to unite South Carolinians after the Revolutionary War transformed into a large university that offers 110 programs, 5 of which are online. The University of South Carolina is a Carnegie top-tier institution and has also been named a Best Value Public College, Top 10% Public University Graduation Rate, the Nation’s Best Public University Honors College, and the Top 3% in the nation for the number of African American graduates. Its Hospitality and Tourism Management program has also been ranked in the Top 10 in the nation.
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University can be found in the bustling city of Chicago and focuses its efforts on preparing graduates to become socially conscious leaders in their industries. This institution is mid-sized and offers more than 50 graduate programs, including a Master’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Through the university’s partnership with the Marriott Foundation, students will have a number of internship opportunities available to help prepare them for the real world.
How These Schools Made Our List
After thoroughly researching dozens of colleges to find the ones with the best hospitality management degrees, we then listed our favorites in a spreadsheet. Next, we discovered all of the annual in-state tuition costs and graduation rates, ranking the schools on a point system based on these factors. The schools with the lowest tuition costs and highest graduation rates were ranked at the top.
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For those readers who are employed by one of the colleges we listed and feel that some of the information needs to be corrected, contact us and we’ll make those corrections. We are always interested in learning about other higher education institutions, so please let us know if you would like your school to be ranked on one of our lists.