Somatic Bodywork at Florida School of Massage

Florida School of Massage graduates earn roughly $3,000 less annually than the typical somatic bodywork graduate in Florida—ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. That gap widens considerably when you look at top-performing programs: Miami Dade College graduates earn $28,714, nearly $7,000 more than FSM's $21,902 four-year median. Even among the state's 66 massage therapy programs, this falls solidly in the lower half of outcomes.

The silver lining is manageable debt. At $7,073, graduates owe less than both the state and national medians, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means most can realistically pay this off within a year or two. With 53% of students receiving Pell grants, the school clearly serves students who need affordable training. The 20% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests some graduates do build sustainable practices over time.

For a parent evaluating this investment, the question is whether the lower debt justifies notably below-average earnings potential in a field where income is already modest. If your child is committed to massage therapy in the Gainesville area and values keeping costs down, this could work. But if maximizing earning potential matters, programs like Miami Dade or Palm Beach State offer significantly stronger financial returns in the same state. The affordable debt keeps this from being a bad decision, but stronger options exist nearby.