Best Online Associate in Hospitality Management Programs

Hospitality managers understand the importance of excellent customer service. They combine their business sense and people skills for a career in hotel or restaurant management, tourism, or event planning.

The best online associate in hospitality management programs emphasize industry-specific technology, leadership, and financial management.

An associate in hospitality management typically exceeds the minimum education requirement for entry-level employment in lodging and food service management and travel planning.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), professionals in these fields enjoy steady job growth, especially food service managers, with a projected 15% job increase from 2020-2030.

Many colleges offer hospitality management programs as a business concentration. An online associate in hospitality management program can offer benefits including accelerated completion times and set tuition rates.

Learn more about the best online associate in hospitality management programs.

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Aspiring hospitality managers tend to be naturally outgoing and people-oriented. Fields like tourism and hospitality require professionals who seek to consistently deliver an excellent customer experience. People who pursue hospitality management careers tend to be friendly, assertive, and organized.

An online associate in hospitality management program can help expand a student’s natural leadership abilities. Aspiring hospitality managers can develop their problem-solving, communication, and detail-oriented skills.

Schools most commonly offer introductory hospitality management as an associate of science (AS) or an associate of applied science (AAS) degree program. Generally, AS degrees prepare students to pursue a higher degree, while an AAS better serves students primarily seeking vocational training. Common concentrations can include:

Most associate in hospitality management programs require the completion of 60-70 credits. They typically take two years to complete. Some accelerated online programs may be completed in less time. AS and AAS degrees in hospitality management stress professional development often through an internship or field experience.

This course introduces students to the core skills needed to manage hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities. Topics include the basic development, operations, marketing, and management of businesses based in tourism, lodging, and food service.

Students in this course learn to use technology specific to hospitality management. This includes database management, spreadsheets, and reservation management software.

Coursework targets effective management and leadership concepts specific to the hospitality industry, emphasizing communication, policy, corporate incentives, and team-building initiatives.

Learners explore critical budgeting, bookkeeping, and financial management techniques for hospitality-oriented businesses. Coursework emphasizes sales records and analysis and internal controls.

Internships are often featured in associate-level hospitality programs. They help students get hands-on field experience in applying practical management skills. Students typically complete the internship at a business aligned with their special interests, such as a hotel or restaurant.

Schools vary in their admission requirements. Associate in hospitality management programs typically require applicants to submit high school transcripts with their college applications. Students with prior college experience should also submit college transcripts.

Generally, hospitality management programs do not require specific prerequisites. Students may need to submit placement test results. Schools may require or prefer SAT or ACT scores for admission.

Many associate programs may have applicants participate in a virtual interview. Applicants may also need to submit letters of recommendation and/or essays.

An associate in hospitality management program can help prepare students to manage all aspects of running a hotel, restaurant, or recreational facility.

Graduates may be qualified to provide excellent customer service and oversee critical business functions, such as operations and financial management.

Hospitality managers with an associate degree typically exceed the minimum education requirements for entry-level positions in the food-service, lodging, and travel-planning sectors. These professionals may also gain field experience on the path toward a career in event planning or facilities management. Both of these careers usually require a bachelor’s degree.

Some popular career paths in hospitality management, listed below, are projected to offer job growth higher than the national average from 2020-2030, according to the BLS.

Learn how to launch your career in business management.

Lodging managers specialize in providing customer service to travelers and tourists at hotels, motels, and resorts. They also manage the operations and financial affairs of the business. Employers often prefer lodging managers with at least an associate degree and excellent communication and technology skills.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$56,670

These professionals manage restaurants and other food service establishments. They provide customer service to patrons and also help to ensure the business earns money and covers expenses. Some employers prefer candidates with a degree and several years of work experience.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$56,590

Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of small-to-large gatherings. This includes travel or transportation to the event, equipment rentals, staffing, and reservations. While many employers require a bachelor’s degree, associate degree holders may pursue entry-level positions to gain industry experience.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$51,560

Administrative services and facilities managers coordinate the office activities of a business. They specialize in keeping records or digital data. They may also oversee the maintenance of the buildings and grounds at a facility. While some employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, associate-educated professionals with experience qualify for many entry-level positions.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$98,890

Travel agents advise clients and make recommendations for travel and lodging services. They book travel and hotel accommodations, provide itineraries, and assist with additional entertainment and recreational plans for travelers at their destination. Some employers prefer travel agents with an associate degree and field experience.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$42,350

An associate in hospitality management exceeds the minimum education requirement for most entry-level jobs in hotel and restaurant management. Professionals in these roles are usually not required to have a higher degree. Employers may prefer candidates with multi-year field experience for senior management roles. Many graduates of an associate program go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management in pursuit of a career in event planning or facilities management.

Those in hospitality management can supplement their degree with optional professional certification. Industry-specific certifications for tourism and hospitality include destination management certified professional, certified venue executive, or certified professional in catering and events.

In 2018-2019, the average cost of tuition and required fees at two-year institutions was around $3,560, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Several factors can determine tuition costs. Is the school private or public? Private schools tend to be more expensive. Is the school in state or out of state? In-state schools typically cost less. However, some schools charge online students the same rates no matter where they live. Students can typically earn an associate in hospitality management more affordably online. Be sure to figure out the true cost of an online program when making your choice. This cost includes additional expenses such as books and transportation for on-site requirements.

Flexible learning styles are among the biggest perks of an online degree. Many schools tailor their online associate in hospitality management programs to students with demanding work schedules or family obligations. Options often include a choice between full- or part-time enrollment, accelerated formats, and varied synchronous (live) or asynchronous (pre-recorded) course delivery.

At first, location may not seem important if you plan to earn your degree online. While some associate in hospitality management programs are offered 100% online, others may require campus visits for orientations or workshops. If you are a distance learner, internships may be able to be completed locally. Many students prefer to take hybrid courses — classes that combine online learning with face-to-face time. Some virtual learners want access to campus facilities. So it is important to consider location when choosing a program.

Any school you choose should have national or regional accreditation through an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Either type of institutional accreditation may be acceptable, although most employers prefer regional accreditation due to its more rigorous attainment process. Some associate in hospitality management programs receive programmatic accreditation from an agency like the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Schools should offer online students the same support services as on-campus learners. The best online programs offer mentorships, career services, tutoring, internship placement, and alumni connections. Many online programs also require orientations to introduce distance learners to the virtual classroom and the college experience.

Yes. An online associate in hospitality management program can help prepare students for nearly every sector of the tourism and hospitality industry. Earning an associate degree meets or exceeds the minimum education requirements for jobs in hotel and restaurant management, travel planning, and customer relations. Graduates of an associate in hospitality management program may decide to continue their education, earn a bachelor’s degree, and then pursue a career in event planning or facilities management.

Most associate degrees take two years to complete. Many online associate in hospitality management programs offer an accelerated path to this degree. They may be able to earn their degree in less than two years while still getting a well-rounded education and experience (like an internship) in hospitality. Students also may be able to transfer credits for prior coursework, which could also reduce their time to get a degree.

An online associate in hospitality management is credible as long as the degree is from an accredited institution. Before you choose a school, make sure it has national or regional accreditation. Also, amid the widespread availability of online degrees, most employers do not differentiate between the qualifications of graduates of an online or on-campus program.

Graduates of an online associate in hospitality management program earn a median annual wage of nearly $57,000 as restaurant or lodging managers, according to the BLS. Professionals may also accumulate industry experience and pursue a bachelor’s degree to qualify for higher-paying careers such as event planner or facilities manager. Hospitality managers with an associate degree typically exceed the minimum education requirement for entry-level positions. This can qualify them for more competitive and lucrative employment opportunities.

Yes, especially in food service management. The projected job growth in that field from 2020-2030 is 15%, according to the BLS. Additionally, the fields of leisure and hospitality are bouncing back after operating at diminished capacity for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, employers are offering benefits — including higher wages and expanded job opportunities — to aspiring food service managers. Exceeding the field’s minimum education requirement, an associate degree may help qualify professionals for senior roles in hospitality management.