Bachelor's in Hotel Administration (B.S.)
Through rigorous business education and hands-on experience, the Hotel Administration program equips students to shape the future of the global hospitality industry. Combining business expertise with hospitality excellence, this program features learning in hospitality, real estate, finance and beyond.
- Schedule
- Full-time
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Ithaca, NY
- Degree Awarded
- Bachelor of Science
- This program is part of
- Nolan School of Hotel Administration
B.S. in Hotel Administration
Hospitality shapes the way we experience the world around us and the Nolan School at Cornell is among the best places in the world for learning the business of hospitality. With comprehensive coursework spanning management, marketing and development, the bachelor’s in Hotel Administration builds strong business foundations which to lead in the travel, entertainment or recreation industries.
Students become versed in accounting, finance, real estate, management operations studies and beyond. Interns and graduates work in industries ranging from hospitality to real estate to finance. This coursework, combined with ample experiential learning opportunities and an unrivaled alumni network, allows Nolan graduates to forge new and better pathways in hospitality business.
Why choose Cornell?
Choosing Cornell means taking advantage of practice, not just prestige. You’ll gain the skills, experience, and industry connections and opportunities that help you move forward professionally. This combination creates an experience that is both focused and far-reaching.
The Nolan School’s AACSB International–accredited undergraduate hospitality degree program prepares students to succeed in life and career by using their education to make meaningful differences in a wide array of human-centric industries around the world.
Ivy League expertise
Hospitality management
Academic rigor
Research-driven strategy
Experiential learning
Multi-industry dexterity
Focused concentrations
For career alignment
Three-school ecosystem
Cross-disciplinary learning + broad electives
Alumni network+ employers
Direct connections abound
Why Nolan for your hospitality business degree?
It’s more than what you learn; it’s also about the how and why. At the Nolan School, you’ll learn a robust array of business skills provided within an experience-centered philosophy—all with the guidance of a distinguished faculty and access to university-wide resources.
Hands-on learning
Get plenty of practical experience through several opportunities and combine it with your classroom learning. Four signature experiential programs let you apply your learning in live settings, with paying guests and professional staff.
Business first
All coursework, both core and elective, begins with business foundations. Nolan undergraduates learn a broad base of business principles and skills, using them in their courses and careers throughout.
Cornell connections
Be part of a small school environment with the resources and support of a large university. With expansive faculty inside and outside the SC Johnson College of Business, the sky is the limit for your learning. Nolan School ‘Hotelies’ also flourish due to a broad and tightly connected Big Red alumni network.
Program snapshot
The B.S. in Hotel Administration draws equally from business training and service-oriented practices to prepare future leaders for any company or organization.
At Nolan, students learn how to assess hospitality practices, study consumer behaviors, analyze markets and inform strategic decisions. The focus is on how customer experiences can be improved with strategic business acumen.
Through service-focused learning in tandem with management and analytical training, Nolan students learn how to improve practices or offerings in virtually any experience-focused sector.
What is hotel administration?
Hotel administration —or hospitality management— is the business-focused study of all things hospitality, from accommodations and entertainment to real estate and restaurants. Expertise in guest experience and analysis through a hospitality lens prepares individuals to excel in a variety of people-focused fields in business.
Why this matters now
The hospitality industry is in an era of considerable change. Global transit and economies are evolving. Consumers’ needs and expectations of businesses are shifting. Agentic AI poses risks of dehumanizing the experience of hospitality.
Market offerings have needed to quickly adapt to post-pandemic forces around customer preferences. Companies need to cater to a generational shift in investment and lifestyle priorities.
Those who are well-versed in the human touch just as much as analytical business thinking are going to lead these kinds of adaptations across experience-driven organizations and sectors.
Career outcomes
After earning the B.S. in AEM, graduates work across a variety of fields and industries including hospitality, real estate, finance, tech and consulting. Many roles focus on operations, analysis and consultation where human-focused insight and data-driven decision-making are essential. Our students are also supported by career advising, employer engagement, and access to Cornell’s global alumni network.
Within four months of graduation, our alumni see impressive results. See our careers page for more information.
91%
received job offers (2025)
91%
accepted job offers (2025)
$86k
average base salary + $10k average combined bonus (2025)
Explore the journey of where Nolan can take you
At Cornell’s Nolan School, your journey entails understanding the human experience while becoming adept at business management. The journey below highlights how one student leveraged the B.S. in Hotel Management journey to launch a career in the financial sector.
“My time at the Nolan School taught me drive, technical skills, and above all, how to see the best in people. During my four years, I explored hotel management, real estate and consulting, and the spirit of hospitality set me up for success in every journey. Even after graduation, the large network of friends and colleagues has continued to help me find my path and evolve my career.”
Eri Kato, B.S. in Hotel Administration
From Hotelie to investment analyst
Eri entered the program seeking opportunity to grow her knowledge, skills and network around her career goals.
-
FOUNDATIONS IN BUSINESS
- Built expertise in accounting, finance, real estate development, and other pertinent business skills
- Became versed in operations, management, and organizational communication practices
- Explored applications of finance and economics through coursework and applied projects
-
CAREER DISCOVERY AND NETWORKING
- Concentrated studies in management, analysis and finance electives
- Expanded her professional capabilities and network in financial analysis with an internship at Goldman Sachs
- Applied her proven analytical skills in a new business setting as a real estate consultant at EY
-
TODAY: Senior Associate in Real Estate, Blackstone
Ari now leads evaluation and analysis focused on development investment opportunities, applying the skills and relationships developed through the program to support growth of the company’s real estate portfolio.
Curriculum overview
The enriching curriculum integrates a business and finance practicum with service operations and strategy.
You develop skills in:
- Accounting, finance, real estate development
- Operations
- Employment relations, HR, law
- Food and beverage management
- Management communication
- Services marketing
- Properties development and management
- Strategy
- Information systems
Coursework is complemented by experiential programs and internship support, ensuring you gain both management expertise and service experience.
During and after Cornell
Life on campus and in the community
Being part of a vibrant campus community and living in a thriving college town is a big part of Hotelie life. Student organizations, Cornell traditions, Big Red athletics, and countless events and activities will enrich your educational experience. Plus, with access to a range of academic, professional, wellness, and other resources, you’ll feel supported every step of the way.
What can you do with a hotel administration degree?
With deep industry expertise in hospitality, real estate, finance, consulting and consumer packaged goods, many Nolan School students land top positions in these fields—but you’ll quickly learn that a hospitality management bachelor’s degree can also take you elsewhere, from a tech consultant to a customer behavioral analyst.
Our top-notch career services and academic advising will help you align your academic journey with your desired career path.
Nolan School admissions
During the college search, finding the perfect fit is everything. We encourage you to explore both our application requirements and degree requirements to ensure the Nolan School is right for you. Our website is full of excellent academic, career, and campus life information. You may also explore a campus video tour, or attend an online or in-person admissions event.
Admissions deadlines
Applications are to be sent through the Common App; simply select “Cornell SC Johnson College of Business—Nolan School” to get started.
Choose whether you want to be considered for early- or regular-decision admission. From there, you’ll see our application requirements, including where and how to submit supplemental materials.
November 1
EARLY DECISION
January 2
REGULAR DECISION
March 15
EXTERNAL TRANSFER (Fall)
N/A
EXTERNAL TRANSFER (Spring)
Your path forward
For those seeking to use business to improve human experiences through better business practices, the next step is yours. The Cornell Nolan B.S. in Hotel Administration is designed to help you do just that.