An online associate’s in hospitality management puts you right in the middle of one of the fastest-growing industries on earth. Whether it’s making an event the best it can be, managing a restaurant to provide people with food, running a hotel for worn-out travelers, or working in the tourism industry, you’ll learn to extend a professional welcome. An associate’s degree online is typically finished in about two years. That way, you can either jump into your career immediately, or transfer to another program for a bachelor’s degree.
Every college included in this ranking, as stated below, offers this degree online, which means that the majority of the degree can be completed from home — convenient for less-than-flexible schedules. Even better, this ranking helps you to find the least expensive pathways to an online associate’s degree in hospitality management.
Featured Programs
- #1 – Albany Technical College ($4,848)
- #2 – Peninsula College ($5,023)
- #3 – East Mississippi Community College ($6,440)
- #4 – Madison Area Technical College ($6,512)
- #5 – Central Texas College ($7,050)
- #6 – Finger Lakes Community College ($7,450)
- #7 – Casper College ($7,536)
- #8 – Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ($8,026)
- #9 – Delgado Community College ($8,368)
- #10 – University of Northwestern Ohio ($11,050)
Methodology Ranking the Most Affordable Online Associates Degree in Hospitality Management Programs
We started by using College Navigator to find our initial pool of 28 colleges offering online associate’s degrees in hospitality management. The next step was to narrow it down to only those that cost under $15,000, as we wanted to keep the colleges affordable. After that, we checked each website to ensure that the degrees are truly offered online. All of the colleges that we included in the final ranking do offer the degree online; however, some of them require time at the college for an internship or for other reasons. In the end, the ten colleges that made it into the ranking were chosen based on affordability and placed in that order. In-state tuition may be less than the out-of-state tuition shown.
#10: University of Northwestern Ohio
Online Associate’s Degree in Hotel and Travel Management
Lima, Ohio
The University of Northwestern Ohio’s low-cost hospitality management online associate’s program isn’t just any hospitality program. You’ll learn not only classic hotel management, but you’ll be able to take advantage of the growth of the cruise industry by including classes in travel management. Also, you’ll be taking classes in event planning. More and more organizations want their events planned out for them, and with this degree, you’ll know just how to do it. Furthermore, in order to experience the travel industry firsthand, you’ll have a chance to go on a cruise.
Tuition: $11,050
#9: Delgado Community College
Online Associates Degree in Hospitality Management
New Orleans, Louisiana
Delgado Community College offers a 100% online associate’s degree in hospitality management, so you won’t need to go anywhere to earn your degree. There are six concentrations to choose from, including hotel and lodging management, restaurant management, and catering; you can choose the one that appeals to you most. The school’s website offers details on each one, such as salary ranges and possible work venues. You’ll focus on leadership and teamwork, communication, use of technology in hospitality management, and other skills no matter which one you choose.
Tuition: $8,368
#8: Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Hospitality Management Online Associate’s
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College offers an affordable associate’s degree in hospitality management. The college places an emphasis on basic supervising or managing skills. Some of the classes to be taken in the first year are hospitality management, hospitality careers, principles of management, and professional practices. This degree is available mostly online; however, you may need to travel to take the course food service sanitation, as the American Culinary Federation requires a proctored exam for national certification. Upon finishing all of the classes, you will earn an online associate’s degree in hospitality management and will be ready to take a place of leadership in all different parts of the hospitality industry.
Tuition: $8,026
#7: Casper College
Online Associate’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management Degree
Casper, Wyoming
Casper College offers a 100% online associate’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, while also giving the option to work in the industry in the location of your choice. This allows you to know what it’s really like to work in the hospitality industry, as well as get to know other workers in this field and find opportunities for work once you’ve completed your degree. This program is made for those who are outgoing and willing to learn on their own. The program includes not only courses on hospitality, but also business, communication, and the study of culture. When you’ve finished the degree, you’ll have contacts in the industry, as well as several completed projects on your resume.
Tuition: $7,536
#6: Finger Lakes Community College
A.A.S Hospitality Management, A.A.S Hospitality and Tourism Management
Canandaigua, New York
At Finger Lakes Community College, you’ll take courses online but also learn through an internship in a professional setting. This will help you learn skills such as teamwork and problem-solving, and also skills as practical as resource management and how to use equipment. You’ll learn the philosophy behind the hospitality industry as well, and how the “heart of a servant” contributes to an excellent stay for a guest. There is the option of a degree in hospitality management, but there’s also the option to earn a degree in hospitality and tourism management by taking the tourism track, which will help you to realize what makes each place unique to each person.
Tuition: $7,450
#5: Central Texas College
Online Associates Degree in Hospitality Management
Killeen, Texas
The hospitality management program at Central Texas College is offered entirely online, which not only allows you to go at your own pace and build your own schedule, but also gives the college the chance to hire the most qualified instructors. If you’ve already worked in the hospitality industry, this may be the program for you. The college invites you to send in resumes or transcripts. These will be considered, and you could be awarded credit for the experience you’ve already gained.
Tuition: $7,050
#4: Madison Area Technical College
Hospitality Management Online Associate’s
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison Area Technical College offers all classes for this hospitality management associate’s online, but requires participation in an on-site internship in order to gain real-world experience and build skills that are truly useful in the industry. You’ll learn what you need to work in restaurants, travel and tourism, hotels, casinos and other parts of the hospitality industry. This program also teaches skills such as cost control, motivation, human relations, leadership and communication.
Tuition: $6,512
#3: East Mississippi Community College
Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology
Scooba, Mississippi
East Mississippi Community College offers an affordable associate’s degree in hotel and restaurant management technology. You’ll learn about all the different parts of the hospitality and tourism industry, with the intent of preparing you for a career as a manager or supervisor in those areas. Some of the courses included are Menu Planning, Culinary Math and Hospitality Supervision. The courses are offered online, but there’s one course, supervised work experience in culinary arts technology, that may require travel.
Tuition: $6,440
#2: Peninsula College
Hospitality and Ecotourism Associate’s Online
Port Angeles, Washington
Peninsula College’s hospitality and ecotourism program focuses on visitors to Washington State, specifically outdoor enthusiasts coming for the natural wonders of the Olympic Peninsula. The high number of visitors means that dedicated, responsible workers in the field of hospitality are much needed. Although it focuses on the local area, this affordable hospitality associate’s degree can be completed online. The program starts out with courses to lay a foundation in marketing and human relations, as well as hospitality and ecotourism. The next courses teach about technology and hotel facilities, event management, and more. The last part of the program involves working with employers in the area to gain practical experience. In the end, you will be able not only to understand the tourism and hospitality industry, but to put all the new skills you have acquired into play in the real world.
Tuition: $5,023
#1: Albany Technical College
Hotel/Restaurant/Tourism Management Associate’s of Applied Science
Albany, Georgia
Albany Technical College will get you ready for all different positions in the modern hotel, restaurant and tourism industries. The courses you’ll take, which are all offered online, will not only give you a beginning knowledge of the industry, but will reinforce those ideas. This program also allows you to go further in skills you already have in this area. You will end up with a degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management. This is the cheapest online associate’s degree in hospitality management on our list.
Tuition: $4,848
Related Resources:
