30 Best Hospitality Schools in the U.S.
1
Cornell University
LOCATION
Ithaca, New York
AVERAGE NET PRICE
$28,890
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Cornell University is a nationally ranked Ivy League school in New York and also hosts one of the best hospitality schools in the U.S., the School of Hotel Administration (SHA). Students and faculty in the SHA are Hotelies—those devoted to making a difference through “leadership, passion, and emotional intelligence” (SHA website).
Cornell’s SHA features a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration. This degree arms students with:
- solid management experience
- exposure to all aspects of hospitality
- the opportunity to study abroad
- the ability to tailor their program to their interests and future career goals
You have the opportunity to specialize in any of the following three concentrations:
- Finance accounting and real estate
- Hospitality leadership
- Services marketing and operations management
The BS in hotel administration includes 120 classroom credits. It also includes 800 hours of field work. The 21 core courses focus on:
- management in communications
- organizational behavior
- food and beverage
- marketing
- law
- finance
- real estate
You can also minor in real estate or choose one of the 70 minors Cornell offers.
2
Michigan State University
LOCATION
East Lansing, Michigan
AVERAGE NET PRICE
$29,230
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Michigan State University is a nationally ranked Big Ten research school. It includes nearly 50,000 Spartan-dedicated scholars and researchers, reaching their academic and career goals. You can certainly be one of them by earning a bachelor of arts in hospitality business from MSU’s School of Hospitality Business. This program certainly stands out among others.
The BA in hospitality business is rigorous. The application process is competitive. That is why this program prepares you for the best hospitality management careers in the nation. You will take a combination of credits in:
- integrative studies
- hospitality business
- hospitality major field
- advanced electives
This is a total of 120 credits.
To add to your versatility and your resume, you will also complete two paid internships and have the opportunity to study abroad either for a few weeks or the entire semester. The students in this hospitality program come from 28 different countries, making it a diverse community. They all have at least one thing in common. They love people, business, and serving others.
3
University of Massachusetts Amherst
LOCATION
Amherst, Massachusetts
AVERAGE NET PRICE
$24,640
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From the historically rich, vibrant Amherst, you will find the University of Massachusetts. It is a nationally ranked flagship university that is featured as our #3 rating.
UMass Amherst includes the Isenberg School of Management Hospitality and Tourism Management, one of the best hospitality schools out there. This top-ranked business school offers a bachelor of science in hospitality and tourism management. It has been a gateway to student success for over 75 years!
Through this hospitality management program, you will learn how to be an effective leader through:
- coursework
- hands-on experience
- industry leaders
- international travel
The coursework encompasses management areas, such as lodging, food and beverage, customer experience, events, clubs, and revenue and data analytics (UMass website). Take advantage of experiential learning through events such as HTM Career Day and Marriott Meals.
UMass offers this program both on-campus and online. That is another benefit. UMass Amherst graduates are sought after for jobs! In fact, 95% of graduates have a job right after graduation from top employers such as:
- Marriott International
- Hillstone Restaurant Group
- Encore Boston Harbor
- Expedia
4
Virginia Polytechnic and State University
LOCATION
Blacksburg, Virginia
AVERAGE NET PRICE
$27,755
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Virginia Tech’s motto is Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). This rings true in all their programs, but especially this ranking. First of all, it’s no surprise that the hospitality and tourism program at VT is ranked #5 in the nation! The bachelor of science in hospitality and tourism management will prepare you for leadership careers globally in the tourism hospitality field.
The hospitality management program has a backbone in business. It features a well-rounded scope of courses in areas such as:
- event management
- franchising
- international business
- lodging operations
You will develop skills in:
- market analysis
- critical decision-making
- effective leadership
- communication
You can also choose to double major in another business area or real estate.
Because this program is globally focused, students are strongly encouraged to study abroad to gain an understanding of both the business and cultural aspects that other countries offer. You can go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic or Spain for a semester-long trip or participate in short-term trips to Korea or the Caribbean.
