Thinking about a career in the field of travel and tourism?
This field offers a wide diversity of career paths in the industry, including:
- International tourism
- Hospitality management
- Hotel management
- Event planning
A career in the hospitality and tourism industry opens the world for you. You have the opportunities to experience a broad range of cultures and lifestyles around the globe. Seriously, nowhere is off limits!
Travel and tourism positions range from operational jobs to management positions in both national and international companies. With an online bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism, you can choose different career paths, too, such as:
- Travel and tourism management
- Lodging management
- Restaurant management
- Food and beverage management
Jobs in travel and tourism management include, but are not limited to, tour managers, cruise directors, and event planners. You might also consider being a travel agent.
Travel and tourism managers earn anywhere from $32,000 to over $100,000. The higher end of the salary range is often achieved by in-house corporate travel agents and government authorized travel agents.
We have carefully reviewed the stats on online schools offering a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism and have come up with the top 8. The methodology for determining the top online travel and tourism degree programs took into account the following factors:
- Prestige
- Cost
- Curriculum
- Student satisfaction
- Faculty qualifications
If you’re interested in the dynamic field of new cultures and travel (and getting paid for it!), check out the top online bachelor’s degree programs in travel and tourism.
University of Massachusetts
In our lineup of the best online schools for degrees in travel and tourism, the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts scores a home run at number one for a variety of reasons.
This school offers the best opportunity for engagement. Online students in its hospitality and tourism management program can get involved in the industry now and learn from and network with related organizations, such as the:
- Food and Beverage Managers Association (FBMA)
- American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)
- Meeting and Event Managers Association (MEMA)
And while students must complete core classes, Isenberg offers upper-level elective courses designed to customize an academic program that meets student interests and goals, such as:
- Gaming
- Special event management
- Beverage management
- Convention sales
This school also provides a virtual meeting space where students can meet department chairs and other students to engage and gain study skills. When it comes to securing employment, the Isenberg School of Management has such a stellar reputation that over 300 industry leaders turn to Isenberg for recruitments each year.
Schiller International University
The international hospitality and tourism management online bachelor’s degree program is designed to meet the needs of individuals who have a passion for travel and interaction with different cultures.
It’s an exciting online program designed for those students who want to cross continents and cultures. If you’re looking to study abroad, this one’s for you!
Also, the travel and tourism program is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Students at Schiller International University who major in the international hospitality and tourism program can earn their bachelor degree in just two years!
Fort Hays State University
The virtual college of Fort Hays State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and The Higher Learning Commission.
Fort Hays is ranked as #17 Most Innovative by the U.S. News & World Report, which is quite an honor. Its Bachelor of Science program in hospitality and tourism management is designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and strategic perspectives to obtain leadership roles in the industry, both abroad and domestic.
A key element that sets this school’s program apart from many other online travel and tourism degree programs throughout the nation is its focus on core business classes. Students take both courses related to the tourism and hospitality field along with courses in:
- Marketing
- Accounting
- Business communications
- Spreadsheet Applications
Columbia Southern University Online
Orange Beach, AL
Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism
The online Bachelor of Science in business administration—hospitality and tourism degree program at Columbia Southern University is worth checking out!
This online program incorporates technology, leadership and case analysis of the global industry in its curriculum. In addition to the core curriculum, students can choose elective courses, such as:
- Design in Hospitality
- Resort management
- Legal Aspects of Hospitality
- Tourism and Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism
Graduates acquire the skills needed for both easy entries into the industry and advancement through this versatile degree. For example, graduates may acquire management and leadership positions in:
- Food service
- Lodging
- Tourism
- Hospitality management
- Recreation-related industries
California State University: East Bay
Cal State—East Bay offers a student-centered online bachelor’s program in hospitality and tourism. Cal State’s program is focused on the creativity, problem-solving skills, and people skills needed to become an excellent hospitality professional.
Faculty at Cal State are not only leisure and hospitality industry professionals, but they are readily accessible to online students. The undergraduate degree program also excels at networking. In fact, many students have begun working at part-time jobs in the hospitality business management industry while working on their degree. Working part-time is an ideal way to build a resume while in school.
The hospitality and tourism program provides students with knowledge in various industry sectors, such as:
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Special events
- Restaurants
- Meetings/events
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s (2022), Cal State ranks #24 in Best Regional Universities and #14 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.
Florida International University
Nationally ranked and internationally recognized, Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism houses a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management.
This top travel and tourism degree focuses on teaching students how to think from a global perspective and apply strategic knowledge in all areas of hospitality management. Chaplin faculty members hold:
- Strong academic credentials
- A+ teaching skills
- Extensive executive-level industry experience
The faculty at Chaplin inspire students to become dynamic leaders in tourism and hospitality management.
In addition to required core classes, students are given much flexibility in electives. Four minors are also available if you want to focus your hospitality management degree even more. You can add a minor in:
- Beverage management
- Hotel/lodging management
- Restaurant/food service management
- Travel and tourism management
Another standout fact: Florida International University boasts a 100 percent placement rate for its hospitality management graduates.
East Carolina University Online
East Carolina University’s School of Hospitality is one of the largest in the southeastern states. The travel and tourism degree is led by ECU faculty members who are passionate about educating and training students to be the next generation of leaders in the travel and tourism industry.
Students take a core curriculum of hospitality courses and can choose a concentration in three areas:
- Lodging management
- Food and beverage management
- Meeting and convention management
Upon completing the program, students are prepared for positions in the tourism industry, such as:
- Assistant hotel managers
- Marketing directors
- Hospitality management directors
- Food and beverage directors
Many ECU travel and tourism graduates are often recruited by industry leaders, like ARAMARK and Red Lobster. And without a compromise to educational quality, the yearly tuition for in-state students is affordable at about $7,325 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting a degree in hospitality and tourism can certainly be worth it. Having a degree means you have a broader set of skills to use in many different hospitality-related jobs. It also means you have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, which can help you perform better on the job. You can also specialize your education, such as in hotel management or restaurant management. A degree in this field is also worth it because some careers require you to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
An undergraduate degree in travel and tourism management is a popular option. This degree has many forms, including a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Business Administration. You can specialize in tourism administration, hotel management, or international tourism, to name a few. Other degrees you might consider include the following:
• Business or business administration
• Marketing
• International relations
• Hospitality administration
• Event management
The cost of a travel and tourism degree varies widely. In-state tuition averages less than $10,000 per year, while out-of-state tuition averages more than $27,000 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. This does not include the cost of books, supplies, room, board, and other expenses. Factoring these items in, the average undergraduate degree costs more than $36,000 per year. You can reduce your college expenses by completing credits at a junior college and then transferring to a university to complete your degree. You can also reduce expenses by taking online courses, which are usually cheaper than on-campus classes, and by seeking financial aid like scholarships and grants.
A travel and tourism degree can qualify you for many jobs, from a tour manager to a hotel manager to a travel agent. You might work in the sports industry, for an airline, or in restaurant management. Some popular job titles in travel and tourism include the following:
• Travel Manager
• Bar Manager
• Event Manager
• Tour Guide
• Travel Writer
The pay for tourism-related careers varies widely. How much you earn depends on factors like your specific education, your experience, and where you work – both in terms of your employer and the geographic location. For context, the median salary for a travel agent is $46,400 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hotel managers make anywhere from $47,000-$71,000 per year. However, numerous tourism jobs have the potential to pay over $100,000. These include lodging managers, hotel controllers, and museum directors.
Museum directors are noted as having among the highest salary potential in travel and tourism, with annual salaries that can reach as high as $168,000, according to ZipRecruiter. General managers of large hotels and resorts can also make well into the six figures, potentially making as much as $155,000 per year.
Hospitality-related degrees are not considered difficult because they usually don’t require high-level math and science courses. Most programs also have minimal writing components. However, some of the courses you take can be quite complex, including economics, business administration, and human resource management. Studying hospitality is much easier if you have a keen interest in the field and dedicate yourself to studying and meeting course requirements.
A typical undergraduate program in travel and tourism is around 120 credits. You need four years of full-time studies to complete that many credits. You can graduate more quickly if you take additional credits each semester. Some programs also offer intersession courses and summer courses to help you finish your degree sooner. If you study part-time, expect to need five to six years to complete your undergraduate degree. Graduate programs in travel and tourism usually require around 30 credits and take 1.5 to two years to finish. Again, this timeframe might be shorter or longer, depending on the number of credits you take each semester.