If you want to turn your passion for travel into a rewarding profession, you should consider becoming a travel agent.
This profession is projected to grow 2 percent across the nation over the next decade.
Although the ability to use online resources to research vacations may limit the need for travel agents, people are expected to continue relying on their services for advice on popular and unique travel destinations.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents in Texas earned $47,950 on average per year, with salaries ranging from less than $35,000 to more than $65,000.
Before starting a career in this field, you can complete an online course and become certified.
For those who want to earn a degree, university and college programs are available at local community colleges or universities.
You can also earn professional certifications through The Travel Institute or join an agency that provides training.
Your training will typically prepare you for tasks such as:
- Researching destinations
- Arranging travel for business and vacations
- Determining clients’ schedules and budgets
- Finding fare and schedule information
- Booking reservations
- Giving details on required documents
- And more
We encourage you to read our list and find out more about the training options available to prospective travel agents in Texas.
#1Texas State University
About the School
Texas State University offers an online Travel Agent Training course that prepares students with the essential industry knowledge to help them become fully prepared for a career in travel planning with an industry-recognized credential.
The 100-hour program can be completed in six months.
Students get a 12-month subscription to Travefy when they enroll in the program.
During this time, they will learn how to begin creating and managing itineraries, proposals, and client communication effectively.
They become eligible for the Travel Agent Proficiency test, offered by the Travel Institute.
This program costs $2,349.
Courses Offered
Students learn:
- About airline and ground transportation, hotels and resorts, cruises, tours, specialty travel, and more.
- International and domestic travel destinations
- Customer service and marketing skills
- How to use Travefy’s itinerary builder and CRM software with hands-on activities
Contact Information
- Address: 601 University Drive, ASB North, Suite 302, San Marcos, TX 78666
- Phone: 855.477.9802
- Website: https://ce.careertraining.txst.edu
#2Austin Community College
About the School
Austin Community College offers a Travel program that gives students the opportunity to discover the wonders of the hospitality industry.
Students gain an in-depth knowledge of the tourism industry and explore topics such as destination marketing, hotel management, and cultural heritage conservation.
By the end of the course, students will:
- Analyze the main components of the travel and tourism industry
- Identify and explain the key factors that influence tourist behavior
- Describe different types of tourism
- Apply basic principles of customer service
Tuition for this 12-week program is $699.
Contact Information
- Address: ACC Northridge Campus, 11928 Stonehollow Dr, Austin, Texas 78758
- Phone: 512-223-7588
- Website: https://continue.austincc.edu
#3Texas A&M University
About the School
Texas A&M University offers a Tourism Management Certificate to help prepare students for tourism careers.
The program is approved for delivery via asynchronous or synchronous distance education technology.
Students build an understanding of the links that exist between local places, host populations, and various public, private, and special-interest groups, as well as assessing economic, environmental, social, and political impacts of tourism.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Event Management and Operations
- Marketing in the Digital Age
- Sustainable Tourism
- Service Quality in Hospitality, Hotel Management, and Tourism
- Hotel and Resort Operations
- Supervised Field Studies
- Special Topics
- Event Management and Operations
- HMGT elective
In total, the program includes 15 semester credit hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 400 Bizzell St., College Station, TX 77843
- Website: https://www.tamu.edu
#4Texas Tech University
About the School
Texas Tech University offers a Tourism Administration Online Certificate.
The program is available online and in-person.
Students prepare for a career in travel and tourism and can add an undergraduate certificate in tourism administration from Texas Tech.
The content areas include geoturism, niche areas in tourism, travel and destination management, wine tourism, and club and resort management.
Students take courses in:
- Club and Resort Management
- Geoturism
- Wine Tourism
- Travel and Destination Management and Marketing
A Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Retail Management is also available on-campus.
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79409
- Phone: 806-742-2011
- Website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu
#5Texas Travel Alliance
About the School
Texas Travel Alliance offers Travel & Tourism College 2026.
Students have the opportunity to connect with professionals from all corners of the travel industry for a transformative week of intensive learning.
They dive into an industry-leading curriculum that covers marketing, management, and leadership courses.
This three-year certification program offers returning students the chance to advance through second- and third-year classes taught by top industry professionals.
Early-bird tuition is $899.
Regular tuition for members is $999, while the alumni rate is $209.
Regular tuition for non-members is $1,099.
The training session begins with a personal journey into the travel industry, followed by a candid panel conversation with tourism professionals who have grown into leadership in different ways.
Contact Information
- Address: 9600 Escarpment Blvd. Suite 745-40, Austin, TX 78749
- Phone: 512-328-8842
- Website: https://texastravelalliance.org
#6University of North Texas
About the School
The University of North Texas offers the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management.
The school hosts the Hospitality, Event, and Tourism Management program- one of the largest and best-known programs of its kind in the U.S.
The following undergraduate degrees are available:
- B.S. in Event Design & Experience Management
- B.S. in Hospitality Management
The following certificates are also available:
- Transformation Leadership
- Leadership in Sustainable Food and Fiber
- Global Tourism Management
- Green Leadership
- Hotel Operations
- Digital Insights
- Fashion entrepreneurship
- And more
The Global Tourism Management program is 12 hours long and includes the following classes:
- Foundations of International Travel & Tourism
- Introduction to International Sustainable Tourism
- Hotel Operations
- Technology & Innovation in Hospitality, Event and Tourism
- Global Discovery in Merchandising and Hospitality Management
Contact Information
- Address: 1155 Union Circle, #311100, Denton, TX 76203-5017
- Phone: 940-565-2436
- Website: https://cmht.unt.edu
#7The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
About the School
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
This program prepares students to enter the hospitality sector with an in-depth understanding of how to operate and manage in the areas of hospitality and tourism, with globally competitive skills.
Courses Offered
Students have the following concentration options:
- Event and Destination Management
- Lodging Asset Ownership and Management
- Restaurant Entrepreneurship and Management
The Event and Destination Management concentration includes courses such as:
- Catering Management
- Tourism Destination Marketing
- Event Marketing
Contact Information
- Address: One West University Blvd. Brownsville, Texas 78520
- Phone: 844-ATUTRGV
- Website: https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com
#8Texas Southern University
About the School
Texas Southern University offers a Hospitality, Events & Tourism career pathway that includes a broad range of services related to food and beverage, lodging, travel, event planning, and conferences.
The pathway is commonly chosen by those who study:
- Hospitality Management
- Business Administration
- Marketing & Communications
- Sports Management
- Public Relations
- Tourism & Recreation Management
- Human Performance & Sport Sciences
Paid micro-internships are available through Parker Dewey and employers who are actively recruiting TSU students.
Contact Information
- Address: 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX 77004
- Phone: (713) 313-7541 & 713-313-1184
- Website: https://cpc.tsu.edu
#9UT San Antonio
About the School
UT San Antonio offers a Hospitality and Event Management Multidisciplinary Studies Bachelor’s Degree.
The program is designed to immerse students in the rich and vibrant heritage of San Antonio.
Students can customize the program to fit their interests and professional goals.
Courses Offered
The curriculum for the Hospitality & Event Management Leadership and Operations focus area includes courses such as:
- American History
- Food and Beverage Cost Control
- Strategic Marketing for Hospitality and Events
- Hospitality Financial Statement Analysis
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249
- Phone: (210) 458-5191
- Website: https://uc.utsa.edu
#10St. Philip's College
About the School
St. Philip’s College offers a Hospitality Management program that emphasizes essential business disciplines, including economics and operations management.
The program prepares students for immediate career entry and seamless transfer to a four-year university.
Courses Offered
Program learning outcomes include:
- An overview of the hospitality industry, guest experience, and the profession
- Field experience
- Human resource management relative to business operations
- Analytical skills
- Oral communication skills
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Digital communication skills
- Leadership skills
- And more
The following degree options are available:
- Hospitality Management, A.A.S.
- Hospitality Management Fundamentals Level 2 Certificate
Contact Information
- Address: 1801 Martin Luther King Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78203
- Phone: 210-486-2310
- Website: https://www.alamo.edu
Schools Summary Table
Travel Agent Average Salary in Texas
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$31K
|
|
|
$52K
|
|
|
$70K
|
Travel Agent Salary by Metro Area in Texas
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 270 | $55,810 | $26.83 | $75,380 | $33,740 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,430 | $54,710 | $26.31 | $74,290 | $34,530 |
| El Paso, TX | 30 | $39,940 | $19.20 | $55,230 | $27,820 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,260 | $53,040 | $25.50 | $64,160 | $35,920 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 210 | $51,340 | $24.68 | $62,860 | $38,310 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best travel agent schools available to Texas residents, the next step is to decide if this profession is a good fit for you.
Before deciding where to start your training, we encourage you to complete thorough research and gather information about all the factors that are relevant to you.
