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Best Massage Therapy Schools (2026): 224 Ranked by Salary & ROI

224 schools ranked by TSW Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Massage Therapy, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Massage Therapy graduate earns $20,588/yr across 224 schools.

Programs Ranked

224

Avg Earnings

$20,588/yr

Avg TSW Score

39/100

#1 School

Madison Area Technical College

$29,119/yr

Why Madison College Sits at #1

Madison Area Technical College’s top ranking is no accident; it’s a direct result of its deep integration with Wisconsin's regional healthcare economy. The school's formal partnerships with major employers like UW Health and SSM Health create a direct talent pipeline, explaining why its graduates earn a strong $29,119/yr right out of the gate. This employer-centric model, combined with low public tuition of just $4,780, generates the program's exceptional 59.9x return on investment.

The For-Profit Surprise: High Earnings at a Price

While public colleges offer the best ROI, the top of our list is surprisingly crowded with private for-profit schools like Alaska Career College (#3) and Carrington College-Boise (#4). These schools produce the highest earners in the top five, with graduates making over $34,000 annually. This suggests these institutions are hyper-focused on streamlined training and aggressive job placement, aligning their curriculum tightly with what local employers will pay a premium for, even if their tuition costs and ROI are less transparent.

The Community College ROI Advantage

The smartest financial move in massage therapy training is clear: attend a public community college. Schools like Miami Dade College (#2) and Palm Beach State College (#5) deliver an unparalleled return by combining rock-bottom tuition (under $3,100/yr) with strong earnings, leading to staggering ROI figures of over 100x. While private schools can get you a high-paying job, these public institutions offer a nearly debt-free path to the same career, making them the undisputed value leaders.

Your License to Practice: The MBLEx and State Hours

After graduation, your career begins with a license, which in nearly every state requires passing the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). To sit for the exam, programs must provide a set number of hands-on training hours, typically between 500 and 1,000, depending on state board requirements. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 16.3% job growth through 2034, earning this license makes you a valuable commodity in a rapidly expanding field.

Licensing requirements vary by state — always verify specifics with the relevant state board before enrolling.

All Massage Therapy Programs Ranked

Click any row for full earnings projections and career path breakdown.

#	School	TSW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Massage Therapy	53 49–53	$29,119/yr	59.9x
2	Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Massage Therapy	58 54–58	$28,714/yr	100.2x
3	Alaska Career College Anchorage, AK · Massage Therapy	49 44–49	$35,057/yr	—
4	Carrington College-Boise Boise, ID · Massage Therapy	48 44–49	$34,434/yr	—
5	Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL · Massage Therapy	55 48–55	$24,097/yr	107.6x
6	Fortis Institute-Towson Towson, MD · Massage Therapy	45 40–45	$29,449/yr	—
7	East-West Healing Arts Institute Madison, WI · Massage Therapy	45 40–45	$29,450/yr	—
8	Indiana Wellness College Carmel, IN · Massage Therapy	45 41–45	$29,979/yr	—
9	Center for the Healing Arts Voorhees, NJ · Massage Therapy	44 40–44	$28,634/yr	—
10	Lansing Community College Lansing, MI · Massage Therapy	48 39–48	$17,927/yr	93.8x
11	Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN · Massage Therapy	44 38–44	$21,881/yr	44.9x
12	Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City Rapid City, SD · Massage Therapy	44 39–44	$27,821/yr	—
13	Parker University Dallas, TX · Massage Therapy	44 40–44	$32,172/yr	17.4x
14	Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage Falls Church, VA · Massage Therapy	43 38–43	$27,082/yr	—
15	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Massage Therapy	43 40–43	$21,614/yr	43.0x
16	PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA · Massage Therapy	43 38–43	$26,872/yr	—
17	Northwestern Health Sciences University Bloomington, MN · Massage Therapy	43 39–43	$28,583/yr	22.8x
18	River Valley Community College Claremont, NH · Massage Therapy	42 40–42	$24,455/yr	34.2x
19	San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX · Massage Therapy	48 44–48	$15,416/yr	76.4x
20	Carrington College-Portland Portland, OR · Massage Therapy	43 38–43	$26,740/yr	—
21	Carrington College-Spokane Spokane, WA · Massage Therapy	43 38–43	$26,740/yr	—
22	Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology Kennewick, WA · Massage Therapy	42 38–42	$26,257/yr	—
23	American Massage & Bodywork Institute Vienna, VA · Massage Therapy	42 38–43	$26,360/yr	—
24	PCI Academy-Iowa City Iowa City, IA · Massage Therapy	43 38–43	$26,872/yr	—
25	Atlanta School of Massage Atlanta, GA · Massage Therapy	41 37–41	$24,808/yr	—
26	Pinnacle Career Institute Kansas City, MO · Massage Therapy	41 37–42	$24,980/yr	—
27	Midwest Institute Earth City, MO · Massage Therapy	41 37–41	$24,832/yr	—
28	Colorado School of Healing Arts Lakewood, CO · Massage Therapy	42 38–42	$27,724/yr	21.7x
29	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,575/yr	—
30	The Salon Professional Academy-Fargo Fargo, ND · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,541/yr	—
31	Aveda Institute-Provo Provo, UT · Massage Therapy	42 37–42	$25,581/yr	—
32	Mayfield College Cathedral City, CA · Massage Therapy	41 37–42	$25,111/yr	—
33	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Lawrence Lawrence, KS · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,575/yr	—
34	Lee Professional Institute Fort Myers, FL · Massage Therapy	41 37–41	$24,586/yr	—
35	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Springfield Springfield, MO · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,575/yr	—
36	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Wichita Wichita, KS · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,575/yr	—
37	Intellitec College-Grand Junction Grand Junction, CO · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$23,916/yr	—
38	Cortiva Institute St. Petersburg, FL · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$23,843/yr	—
39	Capri College-Davenport Davenport, IA · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$23,285/yr	—
40	Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell, PA · Massage Therapy	41 38–41	$22,311/yr	34.6x
41	Aveda Institute-Fort Myers Fort Myers, FL · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$23,316/yr	—
42	Cortiva Institute Pompano Beach, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,969/yr	—
43	Myotherapy Massage College Millcreek City, UT · Massage Therapy	40 36–41	$23,642/yr	—
44	Cortiva Institute Linthicum, MD · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$23,356/yr	—
45	Gwinnett College Raleigh, NC · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$23,077/yr	—
46	Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Springfield, IL · Massage Therapy	40 36–41	$23,708/yr	—
47	Cortiva Institute Maitland, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,969/yr	—
48	Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, IL · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$21,955/yr	34.9x
49	Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Chicago, IL · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$23,044/yr	—
50	Daytona College Ormond Beach, FL · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,286/yr	—
51	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,913/yr	—
52	Palm Beach Academy of Health & Beauty West Palm Beach, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$23,011/yr	—
53	Pensacola School of Massage Therapy & Health Careers Pensacola, FL · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$23,100/yr	—
54	The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Milwaukee, WI · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,115/yr	—
55	Sage School of Massage & Esthetics Bend, OR · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,255/yr	—
56	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Lawrence Lawrence, KS · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,913/yr	—
57	Cortiva Institute-Arlington Arlington, TX · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$23,843/yr	—
58	Aveda Institute-Madison Madison, WI · Massage Therapy	41 36–41	$24,115/yr	—
59	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Wichita Wichita, KS · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,913/yr	—
60	Milan Institute-Visalia Visalia, CA · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,774/yr	—
61	Cortiva Institute Cromwell, CT · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,731/yr	—
62	International Academy South Daytona, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,564/yr	—
63	Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,725/yr	—
64	Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook Westbrook, ME · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,247/yr	—
65	East West College of the Healing Arts Portland, OR · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,734/yr	—
66	ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA · Massage Therapy	39 35–39	$27,930/yr	14.1x
67	Delta College Inc Covington, LA · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,463/yr	—
68	Sarasota School of Massage Therapy Sarasota, FL · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,270/yr	—
69	Praxis Institute Miami, FL · Massage Therapy	39 35–40	$21,968/yr	—
70	New York Institute of Massage Inc Williamsville, NY · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,476/yr	—
71	Blue Cliff College-Metairie Metairie, LA · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,202/yr	—
72	Blue Cliff College-Lafayette Lafayette, LA · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,202/yr	—
73	Blue Cliff College-Gulfport Gulfport, MS · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,202/yr	—
74	Healing Mountain Massage School Salt Lake City, UT · Massage Therapy	39 35–40	$22,176/yr	—
75	Hollywood Institute Margate, FL · Massage Therapy	39 35–40	$22,141/yr	—
76	Milan Institute-Sparks Sparks, NV · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,774/yr	—
77	Orion Institute Perrysburg, OH · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,252/yr	—
78	Spa Tech Institute-Westboro Westborough, MA · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,247/yr	—
79	Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth Plymouth, MA · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,247/yr	—
80	American Career College-Ontario Ontario, CA · Massage Therapy	39 35–39	$21,533/yr	—
81	Blue Cliff College-Alexandria Alexandria, LA · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,202/yr	—
82	Lexington Healing Arts Academy Lexington, KY · Massage Therapy	39 35–39	$21,766/yr	—
83	Carlson College of Massage Therapy Anamosa, IA · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,764/yr	—
84	Healing Arts Center St. Louis, MO · Massage Therapy	39 35–40	$22,095/yr	—
85	Hands on Therapy Mesquite, TX · Massage Therapy	39 35–39	$21,757/yr	—
86	Avenue Five Institute Austin, TX · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,720/yr	—
87	Boca Beauty Academy Boca Raton, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,426/yr	—
88	Mind Body Institute Madison, TN · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,826/yr	—
89	Parisian Spa Institute Jacksonville, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,201/yr	—
90	Boca Beauty Academy-Parkland Parkland, FL · Massage Therapy	40 35–40	$22,426/yr	—
91	American Institute-West Hartford West Hartford, CT · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,889/yr	—
92	Fort Pierce Beauty Academy Fort Pierce, FL · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$19,101/yr	—
93	Bene's Career Academy New Port Richey, FL · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$20,132/yr	—
94	Orange Technical College-East Campus Winter Park, FL · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,409/yr	—
95	Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,427/yr	—
96	Nova Academy of Cosmetology Woodbury WOODBURY, MN · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$20,301/yr	—
97	Lincoln Technical Institute-Iselin Iselin, NJ · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$20,737/yr	—
98	American Institute-Clifton CLIFTON, NJ · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,889/yr	—
99	Great Lakes Institute of Technology Erie, PA · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,364/yr	—
100	Cortiva Institute King of Prussia, PA · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,708/yr	—
101	Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN · Massage Therapy	39 36–39	$16,517/yr	35.3x
102	Downey Adult School Downey, CA · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,464/yr	—
103	Academy of Cosmetology Merritt Island, FL · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,283/yr	—
104	Lincoln Technical Institute-Moorestown Moorestown, NJ · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$20,737/yr	—
105	Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa Tampa, FL · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,968/yr	—
106	The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest Houston, TX · Massage Therapy	38 34–39	$20,079/yr	—
107	Cayce/Reilly School of Massage Virginia Beach, VA · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,899/yr	—
108	Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln Lincoln, RI · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$20,737/yr	—
109	Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram San Antonio, TX · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$19,016/yr	—
110	Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ · Massage Therapy	39 34–39	$21,070/yr	—
111	Irene's Myomassology Institute Southfield, MI · Massage Therapy	38 34–39	$19,951/yr	—
112	Southeastern College-Charleston North Charleston, SC · Massage Therapy	39 35–39	$28,890/yr	8.5x
113	Northwest Career College Las Vegas, NV · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,242/yr	—
114	Universal College of Healing Arts Omaha, NE · Massage Therapy	40 36–40	$26,005/yr	16.8x
115	The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston Houston, TX · Massage Therapy	38 34–39	$20,079/yr	—
116	Milan Institute-Clovis Clovis, CA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$19,016/yr	—
117	Medical Institute of Palm Beach Greenacres, FL · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,996/yr	—
118	Milan Institute-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$19,016/yr	—
119	Universal Spa Training Academy Downers Grove, IL · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$19,205/yr	—
120	Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland Lakeland, FL · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,968/yr	—
121	Holistic Massage Training Institute Baltimore, MD · Massage Therapy	38 34–39	$20,071/yr	—
122	The College of Health Care Professions-Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX · Massage Therapy	38 34–39	$20,079/yr	—
123	American Institute-Toms River Toms River, NJ · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,889/yr	—
124	The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus McAllen, TX · Massage Therapy	38 34–39	$20,079/yr	—
125	American Institute-Somerset Somerset, NJ · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,889/yr	—
126	American Institute-Cherry Hill Cherry Hill, NJ · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,889/yr	—
127	Carrington College-Phoenix North Phoenix, AZ · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,068/yr	—
128	Carrington College-Tucson Tucson, AZ · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,068/yr	—
129	National Holistic Institute Emeryville, CA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,613/yr	—
130	Florida School of Massage Gainesville, FL · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,231/yr	—
131	Georgia Career Institute Conyers, GA · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,297/yr	—
132	Capri College-Dubuque Dubuque, IA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,176/yr	—
133	Miller-Motte College-Wilmington Wilmington, NC · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
134	College of Wilmington Wilmington, NC · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,705/yr	—
135	Central Oklahoma College Oklahoma City, OK · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$17,902/yr	—
136	Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Lancaster, PA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,318/yr	—
137	Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute Wyomissing, PA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
138	Concorde Career College-Memphis Memphis, TN · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$17,998/yr	—
139	Western Technical College El Paso, TX · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,446/yr	—
140	Western Technical College El Paso, TX · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,446/yr	—
141	Miller-Motte College-STVT-McAllen McAllen, TX · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
142	Fortis College-Norfolk Norfolk, VA · Massage Therapy	38 34–38	$24,718/yr	17.8x
143	Dr. Ida Rolf Institute Boulder, CO · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,723/yr	—
144	International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage Therapy Sandy Springs, GA · Massage Therapy	37 33–38	$17,629/yr	—
145	Pacific College of Health and Science San Diego, CA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$21,955/yr	24.1x
146	Fortis College-Richmond Richmond, VA · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$24,718/yr	16.7x
147	Gwinnett College-Sandy Springs Sandy Springs, GA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$17,922/yr	—
148	Miller-Motte College-McCann-Lewisburg Lewisburg, PA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
149	Community Care College Tulsa, OK · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,283/yr	—
150	Carrington College-Albuquerque Albuquerque, NM · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,068/yr	—
151	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
152	Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette Lafayette, LA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,634/yr	—
153	Unitech Training Academy-West Monroe West Monroe, LA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,634/yr	—
154	Augusta School of Massage Evans, GA · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$16,776/yr	—
155	Mountain State School of Massage Charleston, WV · Massage Therapy	37 33–38	$17,404/yr	—
156	Unitech Training Academy-Houma Houma, LA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,634/yr	—
157	Academy of Natural Therapy Inc Greeley, CO · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,343/yr	—
158	Clary Sage College Tulsa, OK · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,283/yr	—
159	Academy of Massage and Bodywork Bear, DE · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,303/yr	—
160	Celebrity School of Beauty Miami, FL · Massage Therapy	37 33–38	$17,644/yr	—
161	Columbia College Vienna, VA · Massage Therapy	37 33–37	$17,237/yr	—
162	Miller-Motte College-McCann-Allentown Allentown, PA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
163	Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville Fayetteville, NC · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
164	European Massage Therapy School-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV · Massage Therapy	37 33–38	$17,673/yr	—
165	Integrated Massage Therapy Services Blackfoot, ID · Massage Therapy	37 33–38	$17,692/yr	—
166	Miller-Motte College-Augusta Augusta, GA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
167	Miller-Motte College-Conway Conway, SC · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,129/yr	—
168	Southern California Health Institute North Hollywood, CA · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$17,997/yr	—
169	Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria Alexandria, LA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,634/yr	—
170	City Pointe Beauty Academy Webb City, MO · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,338/yr	—
171	Arizona School of Integrative Studies Mesa, AZ · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$18,503/yr	—
172	Unitech Training Academy-New Orleans New Orleans, LA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,634/yr	—
173	Concorde Career College-Southaven Southaven, MS · Massage Therapy	38 33–38	$17,998/yr	—
174	Unitech Training Academy-Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,634/yr	—
175	European Medical School of Massage Sinking Spring, PA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,677/yr	—
176	Rexburg College of Massage Therapy Rexburg, ID · Massage Therapy	37 33–38	$17,692/yr	—
177	North-West College-West Covina West Covina, CA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,026/yr	—
178	Technical College of the Rockies Delta, CO · Massage Therapy	36 32–37	$14,804/yr	—
179	Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers Hollywood, FL · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,075/yr	—
180	Clarksburg Beauty Academy and School of Massage Therapy Clarksburg, WV · Massage Therapy	36 32–37	$14,586/yr	—
181	La Belle Beauty Academy Miami, FL · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$12,632/yr	—
182	Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman Boardman, OH · Massage Therapy	36 32–36	$13,336/yr	—
183	Marion Technical College Ocala, FL · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$15,779/yr	—
184	Estelle Medical Academy Skokie, IL · Massage Therapy	37 31–37	$17,673/yr	26.9x
185	Aveda Institute-Tallahassee Tallahassee, FL · Massage Therapy	36 32–36	$13,943/yr	—
186	Healing Hands School of Holistic Health Escondido, CA · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$15,667/yr	—
187	Center for Massage Asheville, NC · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$15,452/yr	—
188	Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,075/yr	—
189	Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry Casselberry, FL · Massage Therapy	37 32–37	$16,075/yr	—
190	International School of Beauty Inc Palm Desert, CA · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$8,864/yr	—
191	Gwinnett College-Lilburn Lilburn, GA · Massage Therapy	36 32–36	$20,997/yr	18.4x
192	Fortis Institute-Wayne Wayne, NJ · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$10,477/yr	—
193	Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI · Massage Therapy	36 33–36	$14,554/yr	28.6x
194	Fortis Institute-Scranton Scranton, PA · Massage Therapy	36 32–36	$23,275/yr	13.3x
195	New York College of Health Professions Syosset, NY · Massage Therapy	35 30–35	$24,753/yr	9.3x
196	Milan Institute-Palm Desert Palm Desert, CA · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$11,065/yr	—
197	California Healing Arts College Carson, CA · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$11,231/yr	—
198	Southeastern College-Columbia Columbia, SC · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$25,459/yr	10.5x
199	Lakewood School of Therapeutic Massage Port Huron, MI · Massage Therapy	36 31–36	$7,610/yr	—
200	Lake Superior College Duluth, MN · Massage Therapy	36 33–36	$16,331/yr	22.8x
201	CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY · Massage Therapy	35 31–35	$18,762/yr	17.0x
202	Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences New York, NY · Massage Therapy	34 30–34	$25,015/yr	2.9x
203	Stautzenberger College-Maumee Maumee, OH · Massage Therapy	34 30–35	$22,170/yr	12.2x
204	Laurel Business Institute Uniontown, PA · Massage Therapy	35 31–35	$19,903/yr	16.4x
205	Dayton School of Medical Massage Dayton, OH · Massage Therapy	34 29–34	$20,801/yr	13.6x
206	Jones Technical Institute Jacksonville, FL · Massage Therapy	34 29–34	$19,815/yr	15.3x
207	Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford, IL · Massage Therapy	34 30–35	$22,170/yr	12.2x
208	Pittsburgh Technical College Oakdale, PA · Massage Therapy	34 28–34	$20,051/yr	13.0x
209	NUC University Bayamon, PR · Massage Therapy	33 28–33	$12,865/yr	19.1x
210	ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA · Massage Therapy	33 29–33	$23,638/yr	5.5x
211	Acupuncture and Massage College Miami, FL · Massage Therapy	33 29–33	$18,107/yr	14.1x
212	Arizona College-Glendale Glendale, AZ · Massage Therapy	34 29–34	$20,414/yr	12.9x
213	Centura College-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA · Massage Therapy	32 25–32	$14,301/yr	14.9x
214	Centura College-Newport News Newport News, VA · Massage Therapy	32 25–32	$14,301/yr	14.9x
215	Centura College-Chesapeake Chesapeake, VA · Massage Therapy	32 25–32	$14,301/yr	14.9x
216	Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe Tempe, AZ · Massage Therapy	33 28–33	$20,414/yr	9.5x
217	Southeastern College-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL · Massage Therapy	33 28–33	$20,945/yr	9.4x
218	American Institute of Alternative Medicine Columbus, OH · Massage Therapy	32 28–32	$19,100/yr	10.0x
219	Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, IL · Massage Therapy	32 28–32	$17,304/yr	11.7x
220	Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier, CA · Massage Therapy	31 27–31	$14,378/yr	12.4x
221	Southeastern College-Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Massage Therapy	32 27–32	$18,788/yr	9.1x
222	Pacific College of Health and Science San Diego, CA · Massage Therapy	31 26–31	$17,304/yr	7.9x
223	Pacific College of Health and Science New York, NY · Massage Therapy	30 26–31	$17,304/yr	7.5x
224	Dorsey College Madison Heights, MI · Massage Therapy	30 25–30	$16,914/yr	4.6x

Programs by State

Top states by program availability. Click a state for the full in-state ranking.

State	Programs	Avg Earnings	Avg TSW Score
Florida	36	$20,522/yr	31
California	16	$17,501/yr	29
Texas	13	$20,482/yr	32
Virginia	11	$21,317/yr	30
Pennsylvania	11	$19,454/yr	30
Louisiana	10	$18,487/yr	31
New Jersey	8	$19,518/yr	31
Missouri	7	$23,187/yr	33
Illinois	7	$20,723/yr	30
Georgia	7	$19,080/yr	30
North Carolina	6	$18,713/yr	29
Arizona	6	$19,090/yr	29
Wisconsin	5	$24,271/yr	35
Ohio	5	$19,332/yr	28
New York	5	$21,662/yr	27

About This Ranking

What we ranked

Best Massage Therapy Schools ranks 224 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.

Data sources

Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.

How to read the table

Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.

Caveats & limitations

Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.

Methodology

Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (projected earnings vs. program tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Massage Therapy?

Based on our TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Madison Area Technical College ranks #1 for Massage Therapy with a score of 53/100 and graduate earnings of $29,119/yr.

How much do Massage Therapy graduates earn?

Across 224 schools, Massage Therapy graduates earn an average of $20,588/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $35,057/yr.

How long does massage therapy training take?

Most massage therapy programs range from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the required hours. Many states mandate 500–1,000 hours of instruction, which can be completed in less than a year for full-time students.

Is a massage therapy career worth it financially?

Entry-level massage therapists in their first year can expect median earnings around $20,079, with the top 25% earning over $23,077. After five years, the median earnings increase to $25,303, with the top 25% earning over $27,801.

What certifications or licenses are needed to practice massage therapy?

Most states require a license, which typically involves completing an approved program and passing a state exam or the national MBLEx exam. Requirements vary, so check your state's specific regulations.

Are online massage therapy programs effective?

While some theoretical components can be learned online, hands-on practice is essential for massage therapy. Most programs are primarily in-person to ensure students develop practical skills under supervision.

Should I choose an apprenticeship or trade school for massage therapy?

Trade schools are the standard path, offering structured curricula and meeting state hour requirements. Apprenticeships are less common in massage therapy and might not fulfill licensing mandates in all states.

What is the job outlook for massage therapists?

The massage therapy field is projected to grow by 16.3% over the next decade, which is much faster than average. This growth indicates strong demand and numerous job opportunities across various settings.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2025.