Somatic Bodywork at Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences

Swedish Institute graduates earn significantly more than typical somatic bodywork programs—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally at $25,015 one year out. However, this premium comes at a steep cost: students graduate with $33,330 in debt, roughly $9,000 above the state median. For perspective, that's more debt than the top-earning program in New York (New York College of Health Professions, where grads earn $24,753 but carry considerably less debt).

The real concern is what happens next. Earnings don't grow—they drop by 20% to just over $20,000 by year four. That's below the state median and suggests either career transitions away from bodywork or the challenges of building a sustainable practice in expensive New York City. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.33 means graduates owe more than a full year's salary, and with declining income, those monthly payments become increasingly burdensome. The program primarily serves low-income students (86% receive Pell grants), which makes the debt load particularly risky.

If your child is committed to somatic bodywork and plans to work in New York, this program does deliver stronger initial earnings than most alternatives. But the combination of high debt and declining income means they'd need a clear plan for growing their practice or transitioning to higher-earning wellness roles to make the numbers work.