Somatic Bodywork at American Institute-Toms River

American Institute-Toms River's somatic bodywork certificate sits right at New Jersey's median for the field—$18,889 in first-year earnings—which places it in the 60th percentile statewide but only the 36th percentile nationally. That's not a reflection of the program itself as much as the state's reality: New Jersey's bodywork wages trail the national median by about $1,200. The debt load of $8,496 is manageable relative to those early earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.45 that graduates can typically handle.

The positive signal here is the earnings trajectory. Graduates see a 19% increase by year four, reaching $22,400, which narrows the gap with national figures. With 78% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a population for whom even modest debt matters, and the reasonable borrowing levels suggest the school understands its student body. However, parents should recognize that even at year four, these earnings remain below what the top New Jersey programs like Center for the Healing Arts ($28,634) achieve early on.

For families considering this path, the key question is whether bodywork is the right career choice rather than whether this particular program delivers value. The numbers work if your student is committed to the field and comfortable with earnings in the low-to-mid twenties. The debt won't bury them, but this isn't a fast track to financial security.