Somatic Bodywork at Carrington College-Albuquerque

At $17,068 in first-year earnings, Carrington College-Albuquerque's Somatic Bodywork certificate produces income that falls $3,000 below the national median for these programs. That's a meaningful gap—graduates here earn roughly 15% less than the typical bodywork certificate holder nationwide. However, within New Mexico's limited market, this actually represents median performance among the state's five programs, suggesting the challenge may be as much about the local economy as the school itself.

The debt load of $9,182 translates to about half a year's earnings, which sounds manageable until you consider the reality: $17,000 annually is well below full-time minimum wage in most markets. Even with relatively modest borrowing, graduates face a real struggle to cover basic living expenses while servicing this debt. The program serves a predominantly low-income student body (62% receive Pell grants), which makes this earnings ceiling particularly concerning.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. But the broader pattern is clear: somatic bodywork certificates lead to subsistence-level income whether you attend this school or most others nationally. Unless your child has near-zero living expenses or plans to use this as a stepping stone to additional training, this certificate struggles to justify even its modest cost.