The Hospitality industry is one of the largest industries and covers as many as 25 sectors- including those in hotels and resorts, casinos and games, food and beverage, tourism, event planning, and amusement parks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that combined over 30 million Americans work in the hospitality industry. Nasdaq lists a number of indicators showing hotel industry growth from just last year, and that trend is not expected to slow any time soon. Each area of the industry has a different projected 10-year growth, but just to give you an idea the hospitality industry generats $6.5 trillion dollars anually, and the sector is likely to contribute over $11 trillion dollars in global GDP by 2025.
So, you are looking to get ahead in the hospitality industry. We understand- the job comes with its ups and downs. You can do something you love, but not always for a salary that works for you. Sometimes the management gets to choose their hours, and you know that with some advanced knowledge you too can start picking your optimal work times and even start taking weekends off. An associate’s degree in hospitality management is a great way to get the information you need to quickly advance in this sector. Though a number of skills may be learned on-the-job, a number of managerial skills and theories you need to move up the ladder are taught in the classroom. But talk is cheap and education is not. It’s one thing to say you’re ready to make more money in this sector, and another to actually do it. We understand that education can come with a pretty hefty price tag which is why we selected associate’s degrees that offer affordable tuition rates and programs that provide their candidates with financial aid. What is affordable to one may not be affordable to someone else, so financial aid is often a determining factor. Below you will find our top programs for most affordable associate’s degrees in hospitality management.
1.) Albany Technical College
Albany Technical College is a public 2-year institution located in Albany, Georgia.There are 3,251 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is just 15:1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits Albany Technical College (ATC) to award associate’s degrees as well as professional certifications. ATC offers programming in technical and creative fields- pulling in a diverse student body. Academic offerings range from horticulture to hospitality to graphic design. We selected ATC for their affordable tuition rates and robust percentage of students receiving financial aid. Many students return to college at different phases in life, and ATC accommodates non-traditional learners – offering over 35 fully online affordable associate degrees and professional certifications.
Albany Technical College offers (ATC) an online associate’s in hospitality management. We selected this online degree for its affordable tuition rate and for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid. Out-of-state tuition is approximately $4,794- which is nearly half of the national average. Their online associate’s degree is a 60 hour degree that is divided into three main component parts: general education requirements, core components and electives. The core components provide a broad overview of the hospitality industry and include an introductory course on hotel and restaurant tourism management, travel industry and travel geography, hotel operations and management, event planning, food and beverage management, hospitality marketing, hospitality law, super and lead hospitality industry and an internship. Your elective courses give you an opportunity to hone your program to match your needs, or sample courses to gain more exposure.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $4,794
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 99%
2.) Central Georgia Technical College
Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) is a public 2-year institution located in Warner Robins, Georgia. There are 7,762 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits CGTC to award associate’s degrees and professional certifications. CGTC accepts dual credits, credit for life experience, and Advanced Placement (AP) credits. Carnegie classifies CGTC as an associcate’s college with a high vocational & technical-mixed traditional/nontraditional institution which is evinced through their range of programming. Degree programs are in fields like business, computer information science, construction, engineering, hospitality management, culinary arts, mechanics and repair, visual arts among others. Distance learning options and online programming are affordable and robust and include nearly 50 online degrees and certifications. The most popular online associate degrees are in the fields of business, health, and homeland security.
CGTC awards an affordable associate’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management. We selected this online program for the affordable tuition rate and for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid. Their out-of-state tuition is approximately $4,810- nearly half of the national average tuition rate. This 60 credit hour program requires just 15 credit hours of general education courses with the remaining 45 credit hours being occupational. The broad-range of programming gives you a solid overview of the hospitality industry as well as potential for a salary boost upon completion. Some of the occupational courses include: and introduction to hotel, restaurant, and tourism management, hospitality law, food and beverage management, supervision and leadership in the hospitality industry among others. This online degree requires an internship.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $4,810
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 93%
3.) Casper College
Casper College is a public 2-year institution located in Casper, Wyoming. There are 3,626 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Casper College to award associate’s degrees as well as professional certifications. Carnegie classifies Casper College as an “Associate’s College with Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical- High Non-tradional” status. When it comes to academics, programming is vast- ranging from agriculture to journalism to visual and performing arts. Within those fields are a wide-range of degree offerings includes hospitality management, art teacher education, animal sciences, rehabilitation engineering, and much more. Casper College offers 10 fully online associate degrees and certification programs, and provides handy student service options. We selected Casper College for its highly affordable tuition rates, flexible online associate degrees, and for the high academic quality.
Casper College offers an affordable associate’s degree in hospitality management. We selected this course for the low tuition rate, and high percentage of students receiving financial aid. Over 90% of students enrolled with this program receive some form of financial aid. This online degree requires a minimum of 60 credit hours for completion and is divided into two components: general education requirements and major requirements. The major requirements cover hotel operations, food and beverage course material, and tourism management. Some of the courses covered include: business law, recreation and tourism planning, sales and customer relationship management, principles of accounting, and an introduction to information management. If you are looking for an affordable degree that offers a wide-range of courses in the hospitality industry, this is a fantastic option.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $7,104
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 93%
4.) Pulaski Technical College
Pulaski Technical College is a public 2-year institution located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. There are 6,576 students enrolled and the student to faculty ratio is 18:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Pulaski Tech to award associate’s degrees as well as professional certifications. When it comes to transfer credits Pulaski Tech accepts both dual credits and Advanced Placement credits. We selected this program for its affordable online associate degrees and it high academic quality. Programming is appropriate for both traditional and non-traditional learners. There’s a wide range of degree offerings including programming in culinary arts, liberal arts, military technology, education, business and more. Pulaski Tech offers 12 online degrees where the most popular programs are in the liberal arts, business, and health. Local students may also take part in their evening and weekend options.
Pulaski Technical College offers an affordable online associate’s degree in hospitality management. We selected this program for the affordable tuition rate and high percentage of students receiving financial aid. The cost for out-of-state tuition is approximately $6,151- over $3,000 below the national average. The 66 credit hour Associate of Applied Science degree is broken into three main components: general education, core materials, and elective credits. The core courses include: Applied foodservice sanitation, an introduction to hospitality, the restaurant industry, dining room operations, lodging operations, fundamentals of tourism, hospitality marketing and sales, hospitality facilities, food and beverage management, and food production for hospitality. All students may select two courses for electives from a wide-range of exciting options such as: baking, resort management, spanish for the workplace, food production, American Regional Cuisine among others.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $6,151
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 90%
5.) Beckfield College- Florence
Beckfield College- Florence is a private 4-year institution that has a primary focus on the 2-year degree and is located in Florence, Kentucky. There are just 578 students enrolled at the Florence Kentucky location and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools accredits Beckfield College to award associate’s, and bachelor’s degrees as well as diplomas and certifications. The mission of Beckfield is to “provide a substantial concentration of courses designed specifically to prepare students for career in the professions they have chosen” which is evident in the associate’s-dominate school. Students at the Florence locations study business, computer information sciences and support, health, homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting, parks, recreation and fitness as well a legal profession and studies. There are 7 fully online programs with the most popular by enrollment in business administration, health information and nursing. We selected Beckfield College for its affordable tuition rates, high academic quality, and flexibility online associate degree format.
Beckfield College offers an Associate of Applied Science or Applied Business in Hotel Restaurant Management. Professors and Industry professionals alike present the course material with endorsement from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. We selected this program for the affordable tuition rate, and high percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 96%. Students will learn to oversee food preparation and presentation, manage inventory and order supplied, keep budgets and more through the relevant course material. Student have the option to approach hospitality through a business perspective which includes core business course material as well as area-specific material like hospitality and safety security, travel and tourism, front office management, hospitality management and more.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $13, 281
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 96%
6.) Bryant and Stratton College- Online
Bryant and Stratton College- Online is a private for-profit institution headquartered in Orchard College, New York. The brick-and-mortar main campus is located in Southtowns. There are 3,406 students enrolled and the student to faculty ratio is 21:1. The Middle State Commission on Higher Education accredits Bryant and Stratton to award associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as well as professional certification. Student services includes remedial services, academic and career counseling, employment services, and placement services graduates. For those seeking to transfer credits Bryant and Stratton accepts dual credits, credit for life experiences, as well advanced placement credits. For our purposes, we are reporting on the Online college. Currently, there are 29 online degrees and professional certification that include fields like business, communication technologies, health, legal professionals and more. The most popular programs by enrollment are in the fields of health, business, and law.
Bryant and Stratton College-Online offers an Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management. We selected this online degree for its high percentage of students receiving financial aid as well as the affordable tuition rate. The program is 60 credit hours long and is divided into two main components: the liberal arts components and the key course component. As part of your major requirements you will examine business principles, marketing principles, hospitality management, fundamental hospitality management principles, technology in the hospitality management industry, ethical hospitality management, leading hospitality management, and much more. All students culminate this degree with either a capstone experience or an internship.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $14,054
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 93%
7.) Monroe College
Monroe College is a small private university located in Bronx, New York. There are 6,823 students enrolled and the student to faculty ratio is 18:1. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits Monroe College to award associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as professional certifications. U.S. News ranks Monroe College as the 30th best online graduate criminal justice program, 140th best online MBA programs, and 180th for best online bachelor’s programs. Additionally U.S. News ranks Monroe College as the most affordable private college in New York State. Monroe College offers a number of career-ready degrees for a wide range of interests including culinary arts, early childhood education, health administration, and hospitality management. Additionally, there are 16 fully online degree offerings that work well for non-traditional learners like the online bachelor’s in hospitality administration, online associate in information technology among others.
Monroe College offers an online associate in hospitality management. We selected this online degree program for the affordable tuition rate and for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 95%. Like with most associate degrees, students are required to complete general education courses in addition to their major. That being said, even their general education requirements are applicable to this career and include a course on business writing, composition, quantitative reasoning, and integrated business applications. We like the wide-range of major courses that include: beverage management, travel and tourism, and introduction to hospitality, restaurant operations, dining room management, and more. This course culminates with a cooperative education seminar.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition:$14,450
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 95%
8.) Arizona Western College
Arizona Western College (AWC) is a public 2-year institution located in Yuma, Arizona. There are 7,569 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits AWC to award associate’s degrees as well as professional certifications. The Carnegie Association classifies AWC as an Associate’s Mixed Traditional/ Non-Traditional institution.This is apparent in the both the types of degree offerings as well as the accommodating student services that include on-campus day care, placement for graduates, remedial services, employment services and academic/career counseling services. Academic programs range from drama to geology. There are over 30 online degrees and certifications available including in hospitality management, criminal justice,office management and more. We selected Arizona Western College for its academic quality as well as for the affordable online associate degree offerings.
Arizona Western College offers an Associate of Arts in Hotel Restaurant Management. We selected this program the affordable tuition rates as well as for the high percentage of students who receive financial aid. This degree prepares students for leadership roles in the growing hospitality industry. This online degree is divided into three main components: general education requirements, the major, and electives. The major courses have a stronger emphasis on restaurant services, Some of the major courses include: production kitchen, catering-planning production and the dining room, an introduction to hospitality, customer service management, and property management.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $9,590
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 86%
9.) Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (Cincinnati State) is a public 2-year institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. There are 9,056 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Cincinnati State to award associate’s degrees as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie Cincinnati State offers programming appropriate for both traditional and non-traditional students. Those seeking to transfer from other institutions will be happy to hear that Cincinnati State accepts dual credits, credit for life experiences, as well as advanced placement credits. Academic offerings are robust and include everything from Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture to Visual and Performing Arts. When it comes to online education, Cincinnati State offers 20 fully online degrees and professional certifications including programming in hospitality management, health informatics, civil engineering and more.
Cincinnati State offers an Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management. We selected this online degree because it’s affordable, and a high percentage of students receive financial aid. The approximate cost for out-of-state tuition is $7,393- over $2,000 below the national average. The curriculum includes general education classes, business classes, and hospitality industry courses. Participants learn about principles of management and principles of microeconomics. Students participate in courses that cover a wide-range of opportunities in the hospitality industry including: food service, food and beverage, rooms, hotels, event meeting and convention management. You will also gain insights into business management specifics through their courses in business law, managerial accounting, leadership, financial accounting, principles of management, and professional practices. For those looking to step into a high-up managerial position, this affordable associate in hospitality management can help you get there.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $7,393
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 73%
10.) Central Texas College
Central Texas College (CTC) is a public 2-year institution located in Killeen, Texas. There are 18,117 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1. We selected CTC for its affordable online associate degrees, high quality academics, and for their flexible online options. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits CTC to award 2-year degrees including professional certifications. Academic programming is robust for both traditional and non-traditional students. In fact, the Carnegie Association lists CTC as an Associate’s college with high non-traditional programming and high transfer activity. Traditional students may select programs that range from agriculture to visual arts. When it comes to online options, there are 35 online and affordable associate and certification programs. The most popular programs are in the liberal arts, business, and military sciences.
Central Texas College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management. We selected this online degree for the affordable tuition rate and for the percentage of students receiving financial assistance. The tuition is nearly $3,000 below the national average! Those who study this program online may choose from a wide range of courses which enhances flexibility- you can essentially tailor your degree to match your professional needs. This 60 credit hour degree is divided into two three main elements: general education courses, hospitality management courses, and an internship. The online courses available include: an introduction to the hospitality industry, sanitation and safety, front office procedures, hospitality legal issues, principles of food and beverage operations, hospitality industry training, dining room services, menu management, hospitality supervision, an introduction to travel and tourism, an introduction to convention and meeting management, and an internship. If you are looking for an affordable online degree that covers the hospitality industry, this is a great option.
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- Approximate Cost for Out-of-State Tuition: $6,420
- Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid: 65%