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 2023

University of Nevada-Las Vegas offers 15 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 566 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 522 Bachelor's degrees, 38 Master's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.

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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.

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Florida International University offers 6 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 1,091 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 902 Bachelor's degrees, and 189 Master's degrees.

Johnson & Wales University-Providence offers 11 Hospitality degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 699 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 545 Bachelor's degrees, 114 Associate's degrees, and 40 Master's degrees.

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson University offers 9 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 186 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 123 Bachelor's degrees, 48 Master's degrees, 14 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.

Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College offers 7 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2020, 350 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 247 Certificates, and 103 Associate's degrees.

University of North Texas offers 6 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 209 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 183 Bachelor's degrees, 25 Master's degrees, and 1 Certificate.

Valencia College
Orlando, FL

Valencia College offers 12 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 558 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 353 Certificates, and 205 Associate's degrees.

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Texas A & M University-College Station offers 16 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 436 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 291 Certificates, 134 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University offers 3 Hospitality degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 248 Hospitality students graduated with students earning 238 Bachelor's degrees, 8 Master's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.

List of all Hospitality colleges in the U.S.

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Logo University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
3/5
30 : 1 31,142
University of Central Florida Logo University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
2/5
47 : 1 71,881
Florida International University Logo Florida International University Miami, FL
2/5
45 : 1 58,836
Johnson & Wales University-Providence Logo Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI
5/5
22 : 1 5,676
Clemson University Logo Clemson University Clemson, SC
4/5
19 : 1 26,406