Welcome to our selection of the best travel agent schools in Minnesota.
Although there are no mandatory educational requirements or state licenses to become a travel agent in Minnesota, completing a flexible community college program or an online training program can help improve your employment prospects and credibility.
The ability to use online resources to research vacations may limit the need for travel agents, but people are expected to continue relying on their services for advice on popular and unique travel destinations, and this profession is projected to grow 2 percent over the next decade.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents in Minnesota earned $48,320 on average per year, but salaries vary depending on experience, credibility, and a variety of other factors.
A degree or certificate in a travel or a hospitality-related field may also lead to a higher wage.
Programs can be completed in-person or online and typically prepare you for tasks such as:
- Arranging travel for business and vacations
- Determining clients’ schedules and budgets
- Finding fare and schedule information
- Booking reservations
- Giving details on required travel documents
- And more
Travel agents may also visit destinations to get first-hand experience with the destinations they recommend to clients.
We encourage you to read our list and find out more about the training options available to travel agents in Minnesota.
#1Minnesota State University
About the School
Minnesota State University offers a Tourism and Event Management program that provides practical experience in event planning.
A Certificate in Tourism and Event Management is designed for both degree- and non-degree-seeking students.
Courses Offered
The Tourism and Event Management program course requirements include:
- Introduction to Community Tourism and Travel
- Commercial Recreation and Tourism
- Program Planning in RPLS
- Individual Study
- Sustainable Tourism
- And more
The program includes 16 credits in total.
It is available at the Mankato campus.
Contact Information
- Address: Mankato, MN 56001
- Phone: 507-389-1000
- Website: https://www.mnsu.edu
#2St. Cloud State University
About the School
St. Cloud State University offers a Hospitality and Tourism program that prepares students for a career in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries.
Students get experience working with airlines, event planners, tour operations, hotels and cruise lines.
Courses Offered
The Hospitality and Tourism BA cultivates the skills and knowledge needed for success in this industry.
Program requirements include:
- Introduction to Professional Management
- Introduction to Marketing
- Geography of Outdoor Recreation
- Community Development Theory, Practice and Ethics
- Grant Development
- And more
Students also have the option of choosing from the following regional electives:
- Geography of the Middle East
- Geography of East Asia
- Geography of Latin America
- Geography of Europe
- Geography of Minnesota
- Geography of Russia and former Soviet Union
- Geography of the British Isles
- Educational Tours
Contact Information
- Address: 720 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
- Phone: (320) 308-0121
- Website: https://catalog.stcloudstate.edu
#3Southwest Minnesota State University
About the School
Southwest Minnesota State University offers a Hospitality Management program.
This four-year program prepares students for employment in hotels, restaurants, convention bureaus, resorts, and other hospitality and recreational facilities.
The Hotel & Event Management concentration focuses on issues related to strategic management in the hotel and event industry.
Courses Offered
The following majors and minors are available:
- Bachelor of Science: Hospitality Management- Major
- Hotel/Lodging Management- Minor
- Event and Meeting Management- Certificate
- Hotel Revenue Management- Certificate
Hospitality Management students are required to complete two internships prior to graduation.
Those who want to earn an Event and Meeting Management Certificate have to complete the following courses:
- Introduction to Hospitality Management
- Foundations of Lodging Management
- Expositions and Events Management
- Sales & Convention Management
Contact Information
- Address: 1501 State St., Marshall, MN 56258
- Phone: 800-642-0684
- Website: https://www.smsu.edu
#4University of Minnesota
About the School
The University of Minnesota offers a Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program that helps communities learn about the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of tourism and outdoor recreation.
Available are tourism-focused news articles, webinars, and research reports to help inform and support communities.
The following focus areas are available:
- Community tourism development
- Outdoor recreation
- Agritourism
Those interested can learn more about:
- Building local tourism
- Tourism assessment program
- Agritourism: where agriculture and tourism meet
- State of agritourism in Minnesota
- And more
Contact Information
- Phone: 612-624-4947
- Website: https://extension.umn.edu
#5The Travel Academy
About the School
The Travel Academy offers a Flight Attendant and Travel School that trains students online and in person.
The training programs available at the academy teach fundamental, in-demand skills students take with them into the workforce.
The Travel Academy has more than 35 years of instructional experience.
Students have the opportunity to learn in hands-on simulated work environments.
They receive emergency training and safety procedures, including CPR and AED training models.
Test preparation, coaching, and training required by national/international airlines and cruise ships are included in the program.
Students prepare for positions as flight attendants, cruise ship crew, travel agents, office assistants, and customer service personnel.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the academy:
- Flight Attendant, Tourism and Hospitality
- Flight Attendant & Travel- Campus
- Office Management
- Travel Agency and Reservation Systems
- Travel Agency & Reservation Systems- Online
Tuition for the Accelerated Flight Attendant online program is $3,000.
The in-person program costs $5,000.
Contact Information
- Address: 1501 State St., Marshall, MN 56258
- Phone: (651) 242–3714
- Website: https://thetravelacademy.com
#6Minnesota West Community & Technical College
About the School
Minnesota West Community & Technical College provides an online travel agent certification program that is designed to equip students with essential industry knowledge to get them fully prepared for a career in travel planning.
The course can be completed in six months.
Students get a 12-month subscription to Travefy when they enroll in the program.
They become eligible for the Travel Agent Proficiency test, offered by the Travel Institute.
This program costs $2,299.
Courses Offered
The syllabus includes:
- Introduction to the Travel Industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic Geography
- International Travel
- Exploring the World
- Types of Air Travel
- Career Development
- Sales and Marketing
- Technology Used in the Travel Industry
Students obtain everything they need to know about the travel industry, including airline and ground transportation, hotels and resorts, cruises, tours, specialty travel, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1011 1st St West, Canby, MN 56220
- Phone: 855.477.9802
- Website: https://careertraining.mnwest.edu
#7Saint Paul College
About the School
Saint Paul College offers a Hospitality Management program that leads to a Certificate.
Students prepare for career settings such as hotel/loding operation and management, travel and tourism management, food service management, and more.
Courses Offered
The Hospitality Management program includes courses such as:
- Sales and Account Management
- Distribution Management
- Principles of Marketing
- Performance Management and Coaching
- Introduction to Hospitality Management
- Hotel and Lodging Operation
- And more
The courses examine organizations and careers in lodging, tourism, sports, entertainment, event, and meeting management.
In total, the program includes 24 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 235 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102
- Phone: 651.846.1600
- Website: https://www.saintpaul.edu
#8Normandale Community College
About the School
Normandale Community College offers a Hospitality and Tourism Management program that leads to an Associate Degree.
Students can earn an AAS in Hospitality and Tourism Management after completing courses such as:
- Current Trends in Tourism
- Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
- Hotel Operations Management
- Introduction to Hospitality
- Hospitality Sales and Marketing Management
- Revenue Management for Hospitality and Tourism
- And more
In total, the program requires the completion of 60 credits.
By completing the degree program, students satisfy the requirements to obtain certificates in:
- Food and Beverage Management
- Hotel Operations Management
- Sustainable Tourism Management Certificates
Contact Information
- Address: 9700 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431
- Phone: 952-358-8200
- Website: https://www.normandale.edu
#9Hospitality Minnesota
About the School
Hospitality Minnesota offers a Hospitality and Tourism Management program developed by the American Hotel and Lodging Association education Foundation.
The program provides an engaging and thorough exploration of the industry, introducing students to all segments of hospitality.
Courses Offered
Students are introduced to lodging operations, food and beverage, event management, tourism and travel.
The text also covers business topics such as marketing, sales, finance and leadership.
It incorporates courses on sustainability, ethics and safety.
The curriculum introduces math principles and application throughout and features content and activities around developing career readiness skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 121 S 8th Street Suite #970, Minneapolis, MN 55402
- Phone: (651) 778-2400
- Website: https://www.hospitalityminnesota.com
#10Travel Agent Academy
About the School
Travel Agent Academy offers training designed to help students learn and retain information in fun and interactive ways.
Students earn Travel Institute CEU Credits.
The courses are compatible with an iOS tablet and allow students to learn from anywhere, on their own time, at their own pace.
Courses Offered
The course catalog includes classes such as:
- AAT Kings A-Listers Program & Agent Academy
- Le Programme Spécialiste Air France et Film
- Become a Houston Travel Pro
- Lopesan Specialist Program
- Greece Specialist Program
- Visit Florida Rewards Program
- Air France and KLM Specialist Program
- Baja California Specialist Program
- Choice Hotels’ Masterclass
- Costa Rica Specialist Program
- Dominican Republic Specialist
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070
- Website: https://www.travelagentacademy.com
Schools Summary Table
Travel Agent Average Salary in Minnesota
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$30K
|
|
|
$52K
|
|
|
$81K
|
Travel Agent Salary by Metro Area in Minnesota
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 630 | $54,580 | $26.24 | $87,950 | $34,580 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
By working as a travel agent, you have the opportunity to turn your passion for traveling into a profitable business.
Now that you have read our selection of the best travel agent schools in Minnesota, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
