Massage Therapy School Costs
Is it Worth the Tuition ?
An Analysis
Comparing Educational Costs of Massage Therapy to Physical and Occupational Therapy
Massage Therapy School costs are no doubt on the rise. Carefully evaluating massage school tuition is an important first step towards a successful career in massage therapy. Poor evaluation of massage therapy school costs can leave one severely indebted, especially if borrowing was the funding source of the education.
That being said, it important to compare the costs of massage therapy school with a realistic view of potential income as a massage therapist. Then use that comparison in an analysis of other therapy disciplines, namely Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
I feel anything more than about $10 K is a little high for a massage therapy education. Perhaps if an academic degree was included, any higher figure may be worth it. I still believe enough training to perform competent massage could be had for under $10K, maybe a bit less if you shopped around. I’d be cautious of any schools out there still providing massage schooling below a $5,000 massage school tuition figure. Below a $5K figure, a school can survive, but they will need to cut corners. Just what corners they cut may be detrimental later on in your massage therapist career.
Some massage therapy programs have entered the college realm with a few offering 2 year Associate of Science degrees. While these programs may hit the $20K mark or more ($35K being the highest I’ve seen), I still wouldn’t rule them out based on their high expense. If their educational program is sound, the education you gain from such a program will open many more doors should you ever decided to get out of the massage profession, at least as a practicing therapist. And remember this: being a well-educated person will always be more valuable in the long run compared to being a very well-trained male massage therapist.
An Opinionated Analysis and Comparison:
Regardless, I believe the $20,000 figure for a Massage Therapy education is peanuts compared to the $30-$40K for the 4yr pre-entry bachelor's degree needed before applying for Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy school. Then another $55-65K will be needed for the M.S. or doctorate required to practice either PT or OT, not to mention the total 6-8 years you're not making any money while out of the workforce.
Keep also in mind that while massage CEU classes are expensive, PT and OT CEU classes are typically double for the same number of credits.
I know these things because I've gone both routes (MT and OT). Yes, PT's and OT's make good money, sometimes really good money as employees ($60-$80K/year).
But considering the investment to practice Massage Therapy, even at only $24,000 per year of income (based upon the $12 per hour figure commonly touted about the industry), Massage Therapy is still the better deal.
A Quick And Dirty Financial Analysis
Figure yearly return on Massage Therapy education investment:
$24,000 per yr income/$10,000 school investment=240% return on educational investment per year. (not to mention, some potential for tips)
Compare that to PT or OT:
$72,000 per yr income (avg.)/$95,000 school investment=76% return on educational investment per year. (No tips expected or allowed).
Last point :
I've known some MT's, and I've known some PT's and OT's. Taking money out of the equation, I can say judging by all of their remarks over the years, MT's display much more satisfaction about working with massage clients, than OT's and PT's with their patients.
That's an aspect you'll never be able to quantify with money, and certainly makes massage therapy school costs worth it!
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Massage Therapy School for Male Masssage Therapists
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