Somatic Bodywork at The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston

With earnings barely cracking $20,000 in the first year, this program faces the fundamental challenge of the bodywork field itself—low starting pay that climbs slowly. The $7,084 debt load is relatively modest, but even that represents 35% of first-year earnings when most graduates are earning less than full-time minimum wage. While the program performs exactly at the national median and slightly above Texas peers (60th percentile statewide), that's cold comfort when top programs in the state like Parker University produce graduates earning $32,000—nearly 60% more.

The 23% earnings growth to $24,652 by year four shows some upward trajectory, and with 73% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves students who need affordable training. The debt is lower than both the state and national medians. But here's the reality: even after four years of career building, graduates are earning roughly $2,050 per month before taxes. That makes any education debt difficult to service, even modest amounts.

For families banking on this certificate as a pathway to financial stability, the numbers suggest it functions more as supplementary income training than a primary career launch. If your child has other income sources or plans to build a practice over many years, the low debt makes it survivable. But as a standalone investment in earning power, even this relatively inexpensive program struggles to justify itself in a field where compensation remains stubbornly low across the board.