Somatic Bodywork at Cayce/Reilly School of Massage

Earning just under $20,000 annually—even four years after graduation—makes this program difficult to justify financially, despite the relatively modest $7,389 in debt. Among Virginia's 21 bodywork programs, Cayce/Reilly graduates earn in the 40th percentile, falling about $2,400 short of the state median and nearly $8,000 below top-performing programs like ECPI University.

The real challenge here isn't crushing debt but stagnant earning potential. The flat earnings trajectory from year one to year four suggests limited opportunities for income growth in this field, at least for graduates of this program. While the debt load is manageable—representing about 37% of first-year earnings—you're still borrowing to enter a career track where full-time equivalent earnings hover around $20,000 indefinitely. That's well below livable wages in Virginia Beach, where the cost of living continues to rise.

If your child is passionate about somatic bodywork, they should look closely at Virginia's higher-performing programs, where graduates earn 25-40% more. Better yet, consider whether apprenticeship models or shorter training programs might offer similar credentials without any debt. This certificate could make sense as supplemental training for someone already established in healthcare or wellness, but as a standalone credential for launching a career, the numbers are sobering.