339 schools · federal data
Massage therapy schools compared
339 schools in our data award certificates or associate degrees in massage therapy: 328 certificate programs and 47 associate programs. Graduates of the typical certificate program earned $28,052 a year after finishing and $29,672 four years after.
What counts: the Department of Education groups programs by field, and this field covers massage therapy and related bodywork.
Where massage therapy graduates earn the most
Typical first-year earnings of certificate graduates, by state. Tap a state for its programs.
Certificate or associate degree?
| Certificate | Associate degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | 328 | 47 |
| Graduates in 2023-24 | 9,187 | 344 |
| Typical earnings 1 year after | $28,052 | $40,767 |
| Typical earnings 4 years after | $29,672 | $29,861 |
| Typical median debt | $7,880 | $21,500 |
Associate graduates in massage therapy started out earning $12,715 more a year than certificate graduates, but an associate degree usually takes longer.
Highest-earning massage therapy certificate programs
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings one year after graduation.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Institute of Alternative MedicineColumbus, OH | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 30 | $39,572 | $30,595 | $7,917 |
| Alaska Career CollegeAnchorage, AK | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 36 | $39,029 | $35,086 | $9,422 |
| Academy of Massage and BodyworkBear, DE | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 40 | $38,007 | $26,698 | $6,333 |
| Southern California Health InstituteNorth Hollywood, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 56 | $37,469 | $27,553 | $9,500 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 32 | $37,363 | $31,619 | $6,333 |
| Northwest Career CollegeLas Vegas, NV | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 107 | $36,878 | $34,210 | $9,500 |
| Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic MassageFalls Church, VA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 98 | $36,806 | $33,103 | $6,333 |
| Arizona College-GlendaleGlendale, AZ | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 67 | $35,005 | $23,792 | $8,973 |
| The Institute of Beauty and WellnessMilwaukee, WI | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 24 | $34,624 | $33,922 | $7,917 |
| East-West Healing Arts InstituteMadison, WI | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 22 | $34,350 | $31,624 | $8,405 |
| Indiana Wellness CollegeCarmel, IN | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 63 | $33,887 | $37,013 | $9,079 |
| Southeastern College-CharlotteCharlotte, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 39 | $33,561 | n/a | $7,811 |
| Great Bay Community CollegePortsmouth, NH | Community college | Certificate | 11 | $33,548 | n/a | n/a |
| East West College of the Healing ArtsPortland, OR | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 133 | $33,526 | $33,383 | $12,007 |
| Avenue Five InstituteAustin, TX | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 28 | $33,439 | $37,330 | $6,874 |
Highest-earning massage therapy associate programs
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swedish Institute a College of Health SciencesNew York, NY | For-profit 2-year college | Associate degree | 80 | $42,130 | $31,205 | $30,473 |
| Mildred Elley School-Albany CampusAlbany, NY | For-profit trade school | Associate degree | 11 | $40,767 | n/a | $21,500 |
| Northwestern Health Sciences UniversityBloomington, MN | Private 2-year college | Associate degree | 16 | $36,374 | n/a | $14,750 |
Largest massage therapy programs
By number of graduates in 2023-24.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Holistic InstituteEmeryville, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 769 | $29,952 | $31,777 | $9,500 |
| Dayton School of Medical MassageDayton, OH | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 512 | $24,927 | $28,020 | $13,458 |
| NUC UniversityBayamon, PR | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 456 | $13,905 | $20,709 | $9,500 |
| Praxis InstituteMiami, FL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 315 | $23,790 | $27,609 | $7,917 |
| Arizona School of Integrative StudiesMesa, AZ | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 177 | $28,256 | $24,026 | $8,444 |
| Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage TherapyChicago, IL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 172 | $30,863 | $34,271 | $7,916 |
| Healing Hands School of Holistic HealthEscondido, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 139 | $25,379 | $32,354 | $6,333 |
| East West College of the Healing ArtsPortland, OR | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 133 | $33,526 | $33,383 | $12,007 |
| Northwest Career CollegeLas Vegas, NV | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 107 | $36,878 | $34,210 | $9,500 |
| Cortiva Institute-ArlingtonArlington, TX | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 99 | $26,704 | $32,076 | $7,719 |
| Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic MassageFalls Church, VA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 98 | $36,806 | $33,103 | $6,333 |
| Intellitec College-Grand JunctionGrand Junction, CO | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 94 | $25,174 | $27,921 | $7,916 |
| Lexington Healing Arts AcademyLexington, KY | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 88 | $24,729 | $24,983 | $7,600 |
| San Francisco School of Massage & BodyworkSan Francisco, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 81 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Swedish Institute a College of Health SciencesNew York, NY | For-profit 2-year college | Associate degree | 80 | $42,130 | $31,205 | $30,473 |
Massage therapy schools by state
Fewer than 3 schools: Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), Delaware (1), Idaho (1), Kansas (1), Maine (1), Montana (1), Oklahoma (2), Rhode Island (2), Wyoming (1). See each state's trade school page.
Frequently asked questions
How many massage therapy schools are there?
339 schools on the College Scorecard awarded at least one massage therapy certificate or associate degree in the last two years we have data for: 328 certificate programs and 47 associate programs.
How much do massage therapy program graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical massage therapy certificate program earned a median of $28,052 one year after finishing and $29,672 four years after, in 2024 dollars. For associate degrees the one-year figure was $40,767. Pay varies a lot by school and state, so check the program tables.
Which massage therapy program has the highest earnings?
Among certificate programs with at least 10 graduates, American Institute of Alternative Medicine in Columbus, OH had the highest median earnings one year after graduation: $39,572.
How much debt do massage therapy students take on?
At the typical certificate program, graduates who borrowed federal loans left with a median of $7,880. Many trade students borrow nothing, so check each school's net price and aid first.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.