Top 10 Online MBA in Hospitality Programs 2018

Despite the constant presence of economic uncertainty, the Travel and Hospitality industries continue to fair well with annual stability and even projected growth. Several factors like “healthy consumer spending, intense airline competition, healthy corporate travel demand, and a shift from products to experience” seem to combine and make the future of the hospitality industry look positive. As with all business landscapes, the future of Hospitality is not guaranteed, but with the nation’s low unemployment rate and low inflation, incomes and home values continue to remain healthy, which always help to keep consumer spending up. Travel continues to be a competitive market as airlines are aggressively marketing low airfares, special discounts, and perks in an effort to attract both business and vacation travelers. With a strong economy follows businesses that continue to have their employees travel in order to reach new business regions or manage existing ones. While spending on goods has seen a decline in recent years, consumers have continued to spend on travel and experiences in order to enjoy what the world has to offer.

Online MBA in Hospitality

All of these current trends help to keep a career in Hospitality Management a great move for the distance graduate student. With so many high-quality business schools offering competitive online Master’s of Business Administration in Hospitality programs, it has never been a better time to research what degree might be the best fit for your career. Whether you need an accelerated experience in order to find a new job or advance in the organization you currently work in, an online MBA in Hospitality will develop your managerial skills by offering a solid approach to theory within a relevant real-world application. Many of the distance programs offered online deliver the same rigorous curriculum as their in-class counterparts feature. Most of the top online Hospitality MBAs in the country that are featured in this list enjoy national recognition and exemplary business accreditation as well. With some being classified as very affordable programs, there is also a great opportunity for a high return on the investment of education. Let this ranking of the country’s top online MBA in Hospitality programs help you make an educated decision for your future!

For more information about other online MBA programs, check out our article on the top MBA specializations and explore our other Online MBA Rankings.

Note: A detailed explanation of the methodology we used to determine the best online MBA in Management can be found at the end of the ranking.

#1 Washington State University Carson College of Business – Pullman, Washington

Photo creditAn online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality Business Management is featured at Washington State University’s College of Business. Featuring a total tuition rate priced between $20,000 and $29,999, this 36-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability. Some students of the College of Business have reported an average early career salary of $61,600 after graduation revealing a healthy return on the investment of education. Backed by the business school’s stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, this degree has been designed “to prepare today’s working professionals with the strategic intelligence important to establish a lasting career at the forefront of global business. By focusing on essential business concepts that build strong management professionals and highly effective leaders, the program improves your capacity for critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making.” Courses within this program include Strategy Formulation and Organizational Design, Managerial Leadership and Productivity, Administrative Control, Problems in Financial Management, Information Systems Management, and Business Analytics. U.S. News & World Report recently recognized the business school as offering the 12^th best online MBA in the nation. Quacquarelli Symonds has also awarded the program as the 33^rd best online degree in the world.

Ranked as one of the top research universities in the country, Washington State University is the second largest university in the state, behind the University of Washington. Established after an act of state legislature in 1890, the school was founded just five months after Washington received its statehood status. Originally named the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, WSU received its university status in 1959. Today, the university offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 30,142 students currently enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Washington State is a four-year, public university located in Pullman, Washington.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 100.00

#2 East Carolina University College of Business – Greenville, North Carolina

Photo creditEast Carolina University delivers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a Certificate in Hospitality Management at its College of Business. Distance learners interested in applying for this program are encouraged to complete an application form with $75 application fee, submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended including records of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, an undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher, a GMAT score of at least 500, and a resume to the admissions office in order to begin the acceptance process. There is a GMAT requirement waiver for students who qualify. Receiving its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the College of Business has designed this degree to provide “an engaging and flexible education in the theory and practice of business management – exposing students to a range of subjects, including economics, marketing, accounting, finance, strategy, operations management, information systems, and supply chain management.” U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 91^st best online MBA in the nation. Students with the proper academic experience can waive up to 21 foundational credits and complete this degree as a 33-credit hour distance-learning program. This degree features an average total tuition rate of between $2,000 and $14,999, classifying it as a very affordable degree. Besides the core courses for this program, the Hospitality Management-specific courses within this degree include Strategic Management of Conventions & Special Events, Critical Analysis of Food Service & Beverage Management Systems, Strategic Management of Lodging Operations, and Current Issues and Strategies in Hospitality Management.

Founded by Thomas Jordan Jarvis in 1907, East Carolina University was originally established as East Carolina Teachers Training School by the North Carolina General Assembly. Home of the Pirates, the athletic department at East Carolina is comprised of men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the American Conference. Receiving its university status in 1967, the school receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. East Carolina’s school colors are purple and gold while the official motto is “To Serve.” This four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus situated in Greenville, North Carolina, oversees 28,962 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 93.10

#3 Florida Atlantic University College of Business – Boca Raton, Florida

Photo creditAn online Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Hospitality and Tourism Management is offered at the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University. With a total tuition rate priced between a range of $30,000 to $49,999, this program is classified as above average in affordability. An average early career salary of $62,200 has been reported by some students of the business school after graduation reflecting a solid return on the investment of education. The College of Business, which receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, has designed this distance program in order to train “future leaders for the world’s largest service industry. It is a true MBA with the complement of hospitality-specific courses in addition to the core MBA traditional curriculum.” U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 42^nd best online MBA in the nation. Delivered as a 23-month online or on-campus degree, this 40-46 credit program is divided between 28 core credits and 12 Hospitality and Tourism Management-intensive credits including such courses as Hospitality Operations: A Case Approach, Strategic Finance in Hospitality Management, Contemporary Issues in Hospitality Marketing, Strategies for Excellence in Guest Service Management, Meetings ad Events Management, and Directed Independent Study in Hospitality Management.

Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Florida Atlantic University was established and built on the former Boca Raton Army Airfield in 1961. Stemming from a need for higher education in that region of Florida, the school’s construction was initiated after an act of state legislature. This four-year, public institution of higher learning located in Boca Raton, Florida maintains a current student enrollment of 30,541 and offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Besides the main campus in Boca Raton, FAU offers its students two more centers for learning, one in Dania Beach and the other in the city of Davie. Home of the Owls, the athletic department at Florida Atlantic consists of men’s and women’s varsity teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Conference USA.

Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 86.79

#4 University of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics – Durham, New Hampshire

Photo creditThe Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire delivers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a focus in Hospitality Management. Delivered in eight-week terms, this 16-course program is divided between 10 core courses and six electives. By taking coursework over the course of five terms, a student can expect to complete all requirements for this degree in as few as two years or as long as six years, depending on the student’s personal and professional schedule. The Hospitality Management-specific courses for this program include Human Resource Management, Hospitality Operations & Financial Metrics, Hospitality Asset & Financial Management, and Hospitality Revenue Management & Pricing Strategies. Featuring a total tuition rate priced between $30,000 and $49,999, this 16-course program is classified as above average in affordability. Some students of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics have reported an average early career salary of $53,500 after graduation revealing a healthy return on the investment of education. The business school receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. U.S. News & World Report recently recognized the business school as offering the 85^th best online MBA in the nation.

Operating under the motto of “Science, Arts, Industry,” the University of New Hampshire is a four-year, public research university which enjoys the state’s sea, land, and space grant status. Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, UNH’s main campus is situated in Durham, New Hampshire. Offering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, the school currently oversees a student body of 15,188. The university was established as the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanical Arts in 1866 as a result of the Morrill Act of 1862.

Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 84.37

#5 Louisiana State University Shreveport School of Business – Shreveport, Louisiana

Photo creditAn online Master’s of Business Administration with a Hospitality and Casino Management emphasis is featured at the School of Business at Louisiana State University Shreveport. Receiving its exemplary business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 205^th best online MBA in the nation. Classified as a very affordable online program, the total tuition rate for this degree is between $2,000 and $14,999. Students seeking an accelerated program will be attracted to this one which can be completed in as few as 10 months. “In addition to strengthening your general business acumen, this concentration focuses on the key concerns of casino and resort management. You will learn the application of data to gaming and business decisions.” This 30-credit hour degree is divided between 21 credit hours of core coursework and nine hours of Hospitality and Casino Management-intensive courses like Casino and Resort Management, Hospitality and Casino Marketing, and Quantitative Methods in Business.

As a branch institution of the Louisiana State University System, Louisiana State University Shreveport was established in 1967 as a two-year junior college that served less than 1,000 commuter students. Today, this four-year, public university located in Shreveport, Louisiana maintains a student body of 4,746 seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, LSU Shreveport shares the same official school colors of LSU but features the nickname of the Pilots for its athletic department. Home of the River Monster, the school’s mascot, the sports program competes within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics level as members of the Red River Athletic Conference.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 75.37

#6 Husson University College of Business and Management – Bangor, Maine

Photo courtesy of Husson UniversityAn online Master’s of Business Administration with a Hospitality and Tourism Management focus is featured at the College of Business and Management at Husson University. Divided between 21 hours of core courses and 15 hours of Athletic Administration-specific courses, this 36-credit hour program includes courses like Advanced Sales and Marketing in Hospitality, Advanced Front Office Operations, Legal Issues in Hospitality management, Managing Service, and Hospitality Graduate Directed Practicum. Receiving its excellent business accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, the College of Business has recently been recognized as offering the 205^th best online MBA in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This program “combines the traditional MBA training with a special focus in the field of athletic administration. The curriculum is designed to prepare individuals for the ever changing economic, political, legal, and marketing concerns that are a part of the athletic sport industry.” This 36-credit hour program is priced at a range of between $15,000 and $19,999 in total tuition classifying it as an affordable degree.

Husson University oversees a student body of 3,671 who are currently seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Home of the Eagles, that athletic department of the school supports 21 varsity men’s and women’s sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the North Atlantic Conference. Receiving its regional accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education, this four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning was established in 1898 as the Shaw School of Business. Operating under the motto of “Character & Humility,” Husson’s official school colors are deep green and gold. The main campus is located in Bangor, Maine.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 71.43

#7 Lynn University College of Business and Management – Boca Raton, Florida

Photo creditLynn University features an online Master’s of Business Administration with a Hospitality focus at its College of Business and Management. Potential candidates interested in applying for this program are encouraged to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended including records of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher, a resume and personal statement, and a letter of professional or academic recommendation to the admissions office in order to begin the acceptance process. Receiving its excellent business accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, the College of Business and Management has designed this degree to provide “valuable information on the financial protocols and reporting practices that make for successful ventures.” U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 189^th best online MBA in the nation. This 37-credit hour distance-learning program features an average total tuition rate between $20,000 and $29,999. Besides the core courses for this program, the Hospitality-specific courses within this degree include Food Service Administration, Resort Development and Management, and Service Management.

Founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in 1962, Lynn University was originally established as an all-women’s junior college named Marymount College. Home of the Fighting Knights, the school was renamed in 1991 in an effort to honor its benefactors, Christine E. and Eugene M. Lynn. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Lynn University’s school colors are blue and white. This four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus built on 123 acres in Boca Raton, Florida, oversees 2,842 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Currently 25% of the student body at Lynn University have a current citizenship from a foreign country outside the United States revealing the school’s high priority for diversity.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 67.68

#8 Fort Hays State University W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship – Hays, Kansas

Photo creditAn online Master’s of Business Administration with a Tourism and Hospitality Management emphasis is offered at the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University. U.S. News & World Report recently recognized the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship as offering the 108^th best online MBA in the nation. This stand out program features a total tuition price range between $2,000 and $14,999, classifying it as a very affordable degree. The business school has designed this 34-credit hour program to equip students “with the knowledge, skills, and strategic perspectives you need to understand and analyze forces shaping the tourism and hospitality industry.” Tourism and Hospitality Management -intensive courses within this program include Principles and Practices in Tourism and Hospitality Management, Tourism & Hospitality Marketing, Service Operations, Meetings, Conventions, & Event Management, and International Hospitality: Problems and Planning.

With a campus first built on the old grounds of Fort Hays, a military outpost that was decommissioned by the United States government in 1889, Fort Hays State University was founded in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School and today stands as the third-largest university governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. WBKSNS would later become Emporia State University. Operating under the official school motto of “Forward thinking. World ready.” FHSU receives its accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. This four-year, public institution of higher learning located in Hays, Kansas oversees a student body of 14,658 and offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 67.25

#9 Southeastern Oklahoma State University John Massey School of Business – Durant, Oklahoma

Photo creditSoutheastern Oklahoma State University’s John Massey School of Business features an online Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Hospitality Marketing. This stand out program features a total tuition price range between $2,000 and $14,999, classifying it as a very affordable degree. The business school has designed this 36-credit hour program to equip the active business professional who would benefit from an accelerated program of just 15 months in length. Divided between 30 credit hours of core courses and six credit hours of Hospitality Marketing-intensive courses, classes within this program include Behavioral Management, Management Economics, Accounting for Managers, Research Methods, Marketing Management, Data Analysis for Managers, Principle Centered Leadership and Ethics, Contemporary Issues, Human Resource Management, and Hospitality Marketing. The business school, which receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, features several options for acceptance into this program ranging from an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 to an undergraduate degree with GPA of 2.5 and “a portfolio consisting of a letter of application which outlines the applicant’s career goals and objectives and how an MBA degree will enhance them; a current resume, three professional letters of recommendation.”

With an official affiliation with the regional University System of Oklahoma, Southeastern Oklahoma State University receives its accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. This four-year, public institution of higher learning located in Durant, Oklahoma offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels while maintaining a student body of 3,725. Operating under the motto of “Progress and Education,” SOSU’s school colors are blue and gold. Home of the Savage Storm, the university’s athletic department supports both men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Great American Conference. Founded in 1909 as Southeastern State Normal School, the university was first established in an effort to train public school teachers in the region.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 66.10

#10 University of Louisiana Lafayette B. I. Moody, III College of Business Administration – Lafayette, Louisiana

Photo creditThe B. I. Moody, III College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana Lafayette delivers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a Hospitality Management concentration. Featuring a total tuition rate priced between $2,000 and $14,999, this 33-credit hour program is classified as very affordable. Bolstered by the business school’s exemplary business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, this degree has been designed to develop the student’s “in-depth knowledge about business expansion and how to prepare feasibility studies and business plans for new locations. (One will also) develop insight into relevant industry problems and emerging issues impacting the domestic and global hospitality industry.” Divided between Foundation Courses, Core Courses, and Concentration Courses which include Organizational Behavior and Leadership, International Business, Feasibility Studies in Hospitality and Tourism, and Global Contemporary Issues in Hospitality and Tourism, all requirements for this degree can be completed in as few as 15 months. Applicants with a GPA of 3.0 and above in undergraduate coursework may waive the GMAT requirement during the acceptance process.

Operating under the school motto of Fortiter, Feliciter, Fideliter, (Boldy, Happily, Faithfully), the University of Louisiana Lafayette is a four-year, public institution of higher learning which offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 17,519 students currently enrolled there. Founded in 1898 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, the school was started as a result of state legislature and saw its last name change take place in 1999. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, ULL is home of the Ragin’ Cajuns whose men’s and women’s varsity sports teams compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 65.78

Methodology

A list of almost 470 online and hybrid MBA programs was obtained, and each program was evaluated first for Hospitality specific curriculum, and then evaluated on the following five factors:

Estimated Tuition Cost (25%): Each Online MBA in Hospitality degree program is partially ranked based on the estimated total base tuition cost. All tuition data was gathered from the most recent information given on each program or school website. The data was calculated for the entirety of the degree, but does not included fees, books, or room and board; with the exception of programs that use all-inclusive figures. For schools that offer a lower in-state tuition cost, the in-state pricing is used in order to show the best possible Return on Investment. The final ranking score is based 25% on this calculated figure.

Based on this base tuition data, each program is given an Affordability Score:

Very Expensive = $100,000+
Expensive = $50,000-$99,999
Above Average = $30,000-$49,999
Average = $20,000-$29,999
Affordable = $15,000-$19,999
Very Affordable = $0-$14,999

Accreditation (25%): Accreditation plays an important role in education. Accreditations can help prospective students identify which school has gone to extensive measures to reach high national and global standards in its research and delivered education. Each program in this top online MBA in Hospitality ranking is evaluated on whether it holds a regional accreditation; one of six institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional business school accreditations affect an MBA’s brand and prestige, which can thus affect a student’s competitive advantage in the job market. Each school was also evaluated based on if they hold one of the following business accreditations, IACBE, ACBSP, or AACSB. AACSB is widely regarded as the most prestigious level of business accreditation, and schools that hold this accreditation are given the highest marks. The final ranking score is base 25% on this calculated figure.

PayScale Early Career Salary (25%): The salary data is highlighted in this top online MBA in Hospitality ranking because it is important for prospective students to explore the affect a degree can have on a professional’s salary and the possible financial ROI from a particular online MBA program. This financial data is collected from the 2016-17 PayScale College Salary Report. The early-career salary data reports the median salary for recent alumni, from each school’s master’s or MBA program, that have 0-5 years of experience. Programs without a recorded early-career salary from PayScale was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data. The final ranking score is base 25% on this calculated figure.

Prestige (25%): The prestige for each program is calculated by evaluating rankings from some of the most prestigious educational rankings systems for online MBA programs: US News and World Report’s Online MBA Ranking, the Princeton Review’s Online MBA Ranking, the Financial Times’ Global Online MBA Ranking, and Quacquarelli Symonds’ Distance Online MBA Ranking. Each online MBA in Hospitality was evaluated on how many rankings included their program. The final ranking score is base 25% on this calculated figure.

All of the data for each five factors was weighted equally, averaged, and then calculated on a 100-point scale. This score is the OMBAT Ranking Score, which provides the ranking order for this list. By evaluating the tuition cost, accreditation, early-career salary, and prestige, this ranking helps prospective students find the highest quality online MBA program available in the area of Hospitality.