Locations

• Schools that offer degrees with a concentration on becoming a travel agent are available in more than 20 states, including Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and California. Strayer University offers programs in 14 states including Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. Students can obtain a degree strictly online from Penn Foster or Ashworth colleges.
  
  

Types of Programs

• Travel-agent school programs offer a variety of depth, from certificates and associates degrees to bachelors degrees and masters degrees. Certificate programs are often just a couple of months in length compared to associate degree programs that take about two years to complete. Bachelor's and master's degree programs take the most time to complete: bachelor's degree programs typically take for years and master's degrees another one to three years beyond that. However, some schools may offer accelerated programs in which students can earn degrees in a much shorter period of time.
  
  

Admission Requirements

• The requirements to attend a travel-agent school will vary. However, most schools require a high school diploma or G.E.D. An application will need to be filled out that includes information such as work history and residency information. Many schools will require an application fee before they will process an application. Some schools may have their applicants write a brief statement explaining why they would like to attend their school and become a travel agent.
  
  

Costs and Financial Aid

• The cost of attending a travel-agent school will depend on several factors such as the type of institution (private institutions have higher tuition rates) and length of the program. If the student plans on living on campus, it will cost more as well. Many travel agency schools offer financial aid to qualifying students. Each school has its own factors to determine whether a student is eligible for financial aid. Financial aid may be available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and payment plans.
  
  

Employment After Graduation

• Many travel-agent schools offer a variety of resources to help students gain employment after graduation. On campus career centers can help students with résumé writing, job-interview preparation, and information about immediate and upcoming job openings. Travel-agent schools may host job fairs that offer students the opportunity to meet with company representatives looking for employees. Some schools may even offer job placement to interested students.
  
  

Earnings

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most travel agents in 2006 earned between $23,020 and $36,920 a year. Some perks of the job include free or subsidized travel so that agents can become familiar with destinations that are popular with customers.