Tourism Schools and Programs in The United States

Tourism Studies in The United States

Tourism studies prepare students for the industry that sells and organises travel: hotels and resorts, attractions, travel services and events. In the United States the subject is usually taught as hospitality, tourism and event management, often inside a business school or a school of health and human performance rather than as a stand-alone degree called tourism. At the University of Florida, for example, the programme is called Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management and sits in the College of Health & Human Performance, which says graduates pursue careers in travel and tourism, resorts, hotels and attractions, event management and more.

Degrees and how they are organised

There is no national list of degree titles in the US: each accredited college or university designs its own programmes. The usual levels are:

• Associate degree (two years) at a community college, either as a vocational qualification or as the first half of a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree (four years), for example in hospitality management or tourism management
• Master's degree (typically two years)
• Doctorate (five to eight years), a research degree

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows how flexible the entry routes are. For lodging managers it names three paths: a high school diploma combined with several years of experience in a lodging facility, a bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management, or an associate's degree or certificate in hotel management. US credits reflect the hours a class meets each week; they are not ECTS credits. The academic year usually runs from August to May.

Admission, English and visa

For a bachelor's degree you need to have finished secondary school and generally be at least 17. Each university reviews foreign records itself, sometimes through a credential evaluation agency, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission.

Before applying for a student visa you must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues a Form I-20 (or DS-2019 for exchange programmes). According to EducationUSA, recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to an institution's accreditation.

Where to study tourism in the United States

This page lists 21 active schools in the US for tourism. They are spread across the country, with no city having more than one in the list. Examples include public universities such as Colorado State University, the University of Florida, Illinois State University and Old Dominion University; Temple University in Philadelphia; New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, whose website lists a Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality among its units; and community colleges such as Lansing Community College, Santa Ana College and Long Beach City College. The University of Phoenix is listed as a distance-learning school.

When comparing programmes, look at whether the degree is in hospitality, tourism or event management, how internships and practical experience are arranged, and whether a two-year start at a community college followed by transfer suits your plans. The school's own pages set the curriculum and entry requirements.

Careers

Careers in the field range from hotel management to event planning and travel services, and the BLS figures differ by role:

• Lodging managers: median annual wage of $69,250 in May 2025; employment projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average
• Meeting, convention and event planners: typically need a bachelor's degree; median annual wage of $61,160 in May 2025; projected growth of 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average
• Travel agents: a high school diploma is typically required; median annual wage of $50,160 in May 2025; little or no change in employment projected from 2025 to 2035

According to the BLS, planners who have studied meeting and event management or hospitality management may start out with greater responsibilities than planners from other academic disciplines.

Frequently asked questions

Is tourism taught under the same name in the United States?

Often not. Many programmes use names such as hospitality management, hotel management, or tourism, hospitality and event management. At the University of Florida, for example, the programme is called Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management.

Do I need a degree to manage a hotel?

Not always. According to the BLS, lodging managers typically enter through a high school diploma plus several years of experience, a bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management, or an associate's degree or certificate in hotel management.

What degree do event planners need?

According to the BLS, meeting, convention and event planners typically need a bachelor's degree. Common fields include business, communications and social science, and some colleges offer programmes in meeting and event management.

Is employment growing in tourism-related jobs?

It depends on the job. The BLS projects growth of 6 percent from 2025 to 2035 for event planners and 4 percent for lodging managers, but little or no change for travel agents.