Best colleges for Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services by graduate earnings are Alaska Career College ($35,057), Carrington College - Boise ($34,434) and Parker University ($32,172), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Alaska Career College (Anchorage, AK): $35,057, 27 graduates a year
- Carrington College - Boise (Boise, ID): $34,434, 55 graduates a year
- Parker University (Dallas, TX): $32,172, 50 graduates a year
- Indiana Wellness College (Carmel, IN): $29,979, 56 graduates a year
- Miami Dade College (Miami, FL): $28,714, 33 graduates a year
Compare 358 U.S. colleges offering Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $20,132 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.35 and the Massage Therapists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services programs
The Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services program focuses on alternative therapies aimed at treating trauma and stress-related disorders. This program is designed for individuals interested in exploring therapeutic techniques such as massage therapy, Asian bodywork, and somatic bodywork, providing a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Learn more about Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services →
Students will gain core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and client assessment. Coursework includes knowledge of anatomy, psychology, and customer service, equipping graduates to develop effective treatment plans and perform various massage techniques.
Top 25 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Career College Anchorage, AK Private for-profit · Certificate | $35,057 | 27 | 69% | $18,402 | $9,500 |
| 2 | Carrington College - Boise Boise, ID Private for-profit · Certificate | $34,434 | 55 | 62% | — | $13,484 |
| 3 | Parker University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $32,172 | 50 | 74% | $27,144 | $10,964 |
| 4 | Indiana Wellness College Carmel, IN Private for-profit · Certificate | $29,979 | 56 | — | — | $11,587 |
| 5 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL Public · Certificate | $28,714 | 33 | 46% | — | $8,925 |
| 6 | Center for the Healing Arts Voorhees, NJ Private for-profit · Certificate | $28,634 | 25 | 94% | $14,485 | $9,496 |
| 7 | Colorado School of Healing Arts Lakewood, CO Private for-profit · Certificate | $27,724 | 53 | 100% | — | $7,600 |
| 8 | Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage Falls Church, VA Private for-profit · Certificate | $27,082 | 133 | — | — | $6,333 |
| 9 | Carrington College - Portland Portland, OR Private for-profit · Certificate | $26,740 | 25 | 54% | $31,209 | $9,500 |
| 10 | Carrington College - Spokane Spokane, WA Private for-profit · Certificate | $26,740 | 31 | 42% | $35,985 | $9,500 |
| 11 | Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology Kennewick, WA Private for-profit · Certificate | $26,257 | 20 | 96% | $19,524 | — |
| 12 | Universal College of Healing Arts Omaha, NE Private for-profit · Certificate | $26,005 | 24 | 80% | $20,862 | $16,168 |
| 13 | Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences New York, NY Private for-profit · Associate degree | $25,015 | 113 | 57% | $32,384 | $33,330 |
| 14 | Lee Professional Institute Fort Myers, FL Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,586 | 109 | 77% | $16,308 | — |
| 15 | WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas City Kansas City, MO Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,575 | 77 | 67% | $13,425 | $9,910 |
| 16 | WellSpring School of Allied Health-Springfield Springfield, MO Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,575 | 40 | 76% | $15,632 | $9,910 |
| 17 | Intellitec College - Grand Junction Grand Junction, CO Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,916 | 67 | 63% | $17,515 | $7,916 |
| 18 | Cortiva Institute St. Petersburg, FL Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,843 | 24 | 79% | $26,629 | $7,917 |
| 19 | Cortiva Institute - Arlington Arlington, TX Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,843 | 67 | 82% | $34,684 | $7,917 |
| 20 | Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois Springfield, IL Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,708 | 51 | 69% | $28,377 | $7,521 |
| 21 | Cortiva Institute Linthicum, MD Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,356 | 26 | 70% | $29,721 | $8,444 |
| 22 | Gwinnett College Raleigh, NC Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,077 | 67 | 63% | $31,703 | $11,759 |
| 23 | Soma Institute - The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Chicago, IL Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,044 | 171 | — | — | $9,093 |
| 24 | Cortiva Institute Maitland, FL Private for-profit · Certificate | $22,969 | 21 | 79% | $31,157 | $7,917 |
| 25 | Cortiva Institute Maitland, FL Private for-profit · Certificate | $22,969 | 21 | 70% | $30,738 | $7,917 |
Specializations within Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
4 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.35 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Massage Therapy/CIP 51.3501
Therapeutic Massage 10,675 graduates / yr352 institutions50 states - Asian Bodywork TherapyCIP 51.3502partial data108 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
- Somatic BodyworkCIP 51.3503partial data42 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
- Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic ServicesCIP 51.3599limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9011, Massage Therapists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers in massage therapy and related fields, with a job outlook that is much faster than average, projecting a growth rate of 15.4%. There are approximately 24,700 annual openings, with a median wage of $57,950. Typically, a postsecondary nondegree award is required for entry into these roles.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.35.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.35 (Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services) maps to 2 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 31-9011 | Massage Therapistsprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- Maintain treatment records.
Common questions
What is somatic bodywork?+
Somatic bodywork involves therapeutic techniques aimed at treating trauma and stress-related disorders through physical manipulation.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and various massage techniques.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a projected growth rate of 15.4%.
What education is required for this field?+
Typically, a postsecondary nondegree award is required to enter the field of somatic bodywork.
How much do Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services graduates earn?+
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $20,132, College Scorecard (2019); the Massage Therapists occupation pays about $63,830 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services?+
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services maps to CIP 51.35 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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