Somatic Bodywork at North-West College-West Covina

The numbers here tell a cautionary story, though the small sample size means individual outcomes likely vary widely. First-year earnings of just $16,026 place this program in the bottom 5% nationally—even among California's somatic bodywork programs, where it sits at the 40th percentile, graduates earn about $2,600 less than the state median. The top California programs consistently produce graduates earning $20,000-$25,000 in their first year, suggesting significant differences in either curriculum quality or placement support.

The steep earnings trajectory—from $16,026 to $28,511 over four years—looks promising at first glance, but that initial year below the poverty line creates real financial strain. With 62% of students receiving Pell grants, many come from families without safety nets to cushion that difficult first year. The $9,500 debt load is manageable relative to first-year earnings, but it still represents half a year's salary when you're making $16,000.

For families weighing this investment, the critical question is whether their student can weather that challenging first year—and whether this specific program offers advantages that justify starting $5,000-$9,000 behind graduates from stronger California programs. The small cohort size makes it impossible to know if these outcomes are representative or anomalies. Unless there's a compelling reason to choose this particular school, exploring higher-performing alternatives in California would be prudent.