Somatic Bodywork at Milan Institute-Clovis

Milan Institute-Clovis sits in the middle of California's somatic bodywork field—ranking 60th percentile statewide—but that's modest comfort when graduates earn just $19,016 their first year and see incomes slip to $18,246 by year four. While the program costs less than typical California alternatives ($7,690 versus a state median of $9,500), you're still looking at nearly half a year's earnings in debt for a career that struggles to reach $20,000 annually. Other Milan Institute locations in California demonstrate stronger outcomes, with their Visalia campus producing graduates earning $22,774.

The concerning trajectory here isn't just the low starting point—it's that earnings actually decline over the first four years rather than grow as graduates gain experience. This pattern suggests the field may face structural challenges in this market, or that many graduates transition to other work. With 65% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves predominantly lower-income students who have limited financial cushion for career experiments.

For parents considering this investment, the math is straightforward: even with relatively modest debt, your child would be entering a field where they'll likely earn less than full-time minimum wage work in California. Unless massage therapy or bodywork is truly a calling and they have a concrete plan for building a sustainable practice, there are certificate programs—even within the healthcare field—that offer better financial foundations.