Somatic Bodywork at Montgomery County Community College

Montgomery County Community College's somatic bodywork certificate comes with a significant warning label: the sample size is quite small, making these numbers less reliable than we'd like. That said, the reported outcomes deserve attention. Graduates earn about $22,300 in their first year—well above Pennsylvania's median of $19,364 for this field and nearly identical to the top program in the state. Among Pennsylvania's 25 somatic bodywork programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, which is respectable given the competitive landscape.

The debt picture looks particularly favorable at $18,333, far below the national median of around $8,800—actually, wait. That's backwards. The debt here is roughly double the typical national debt load for this certificate. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 means graduates owe less than their annual salary, which is manageable compared to many certificate programs. Still, for a relatively short certificate program, carrying over $18,000 in debt raises questions about program costs versus alternatives.

The practical reality: this is a modest-earning field regardless of where you train. If your child is committed to bodywork, these earnings are competitive for Pennsylvania, but the debt load needs scrutiny. With small sample size, one unusual cohort could skew these numbers significantly. Before committing, verify current costs and whether the debt figure reflects typical students or outliers who financed additional living expenses.