Somatic Bodywork at College of Wilmington

College of Wilmington graduates earn slightly above the North Carolina median for somatic bodywork programs, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—but that's a modest achievement given how low earnings are across the board in this field. At $18,705 one year out, graduates earn barely above minimum wage for full-time work, and they're trailing the national median by about $1,400. The debt load of $14,311 is actually higher than most programs in this field charge, though the 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio means students can at least expect to make more than they owe in their first year.

The real challenge here is the earning potential itself. Nearly 60% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from lower-income backgrounds and need this credential to lead to meaningful wage growth. Instead, first-year earnings barely exceed $18,000—less than what many entry-level retail or food service positions offer. Even top-performing programs in North Carolina only reach $23,000, indicating limited upside in this field regardless of where you train.

For families counting on this certificate to provide financial stability, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere. While the debt is manageable relative to earnings, both figures are simply too low to justify the time and money investment unless this is supplemental training for an existing career or the student has other sources of financial support.