Best Hospitality colleges in the U.S.
Why a degree in hospitality?
Have you ever thought about working on a cruise ship or helping people book vacations? What about managing a hotel chain in Mexico or a casino in Vegas? You can finally turn that interest in vacationing into a career.
What hospitality degree options exist?
With an improving economy, domestic and world travel are gaining in popularity. The industry has been on the rise over the past decade, increasing at a rate of 17%*. It also accounts for almost 10% of the U.S. job market and supports over 14 million jobs*.
So go see a few more beaches and sip a little more wine. You may work longer hours than the average Joe since people vacation 365 days a year. But when you finally get your vacation, you won’t even have to leave the office.
* World Travel and Tourism Council, Research Inforgraphics* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the hospitality industry
Best Hospitality colleges in the U.S. for 2021
Florida International University offers 10 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 1,041 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 859 Bachelor's degrees, and 182 Master's degrees.
If you’re planning a career in the hospitality industry, it makes sense to choose a college near a vacation mecca. With 62 million visitors in 2014, Orlando certainly fits the bill. Located in the heart of this city’s tourist district, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management boasts neighbors such as Walt Disney World Resort, Sea World Adventure Park, top hotels on International Drive, and the Orange County Convention Center. (UCF’s main campus is about 30 miles away.) As might be expected, opportunities for internships, networking, and future employment abound (not to mention quite a few behind-the-scenes tours). In addition to the university’s ties within the industry, hospitality students aid their own cause by hosting a career fair each semester. Putting their classroom knowledge to good use, they handle every aspect of the event – marketing, décor, theme, and even the lunch menu! The 159,000-square-foot, Mediterranean resort-style campus itself is a site to behold. The largest facility ever built for hospitality management education, highlights include a 200-seat training dining room and bar, a beer and wine laboratory, two test kitchens, and a 400-seat auditorium. Faculty members represent more than 17 different countries, and many of them have held executive roles in restaurants, hotels, and theme parks. This diversity provides a valuable global perspective. And for students who themselves aspire to be industry scholars and researchers, UCF offers a top-notch doctoral program in hospitality management.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas offers 10 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 609 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 577 Bachelor's degrees, 29 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence offers 9 Hospitality degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 914 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 679 Bachelor's degrees, and 235 Associate's degrees.
Clemson University offers 15 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 194 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 141 Bachelor's degrees, 43 Master's degrees, 8 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Certificates.
Ivy Tech Community College offers 9 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 439 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 277 Certificates, and 162 Associate's degrees.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus offers 9 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 311 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 295 Bachelor's degrees, 8 Doctoral degrees, 4 Certificates, and 4 Master's degrees.
University of North Texas offers 7 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 207 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 179 Bachelor's degrees, 26 Master's degrees, and 2 Certificates.
Texas A & M University-College Station offers 15 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 447 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 288 Certificates, 136 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Master's degrees, and 10 Doctoral degrees.
Valencia College offers 10 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 488 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 332 Certificates, and 156 Associate's degrees.
List of all Hospitality colleges in the U.S.
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florida International University Miami, FL | 46 : 1 | 58,711 | |
|
University of Central Florida Orlando, FL | 44 : 1 | 69,402 | |
|
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV | 30 : 1 | 31,171 | |
|
Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI | 24 : 1 | 6,695 | |
|
Clemson University Clemson, SC | 19 : 1 | 25,822 | |
|
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN | 59 : 1 | 72,689 | |
|
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | 19 : 1 | 91,427 | |
|
University of North Texas Denton, TX | 34 : 1 | 39,336 | |
|
Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY | 22 : 1 | 3,099 | |
|
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX | 24 : 1 | 68,726 | |
|
Valencia College Orlando, FL | 77 : 1 | 47,940 | |
|
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | 20 : 1 | 1,523 | |
|
Cornell University Ithaca, NY | 13 : 1 | 24,027 | |
|
Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | 20 : 1 | 33,426 | |
|
Johnson & Wales University-North Miami North Miami, FL | 28 : 1 | 1,309 | |
|
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ | 27 : 1 | 30,733 | |
|
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Albany Technical College Albany, GA | 36 : 1 | 3,285 | |
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Instituto de Banca y Comercio Inc Guaynabo, PR | |||
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Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ | 60 : 1 | 8,602 | |
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College of Lake County Grayslake, IL | 68 : 1 | 13,743 | |