Somatic Bodywork at WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas City

WellSpring's somatic bodywork program generates first-year earnings of $22,913—identical to the national median—but with notably lower debt at $17,937. That $7,000 difference in borrowing matters: while three-quarters of similar programs saddle graduates with higher debt loads, WellSpring keeps costs manageable. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 means graduates owe about nine months of their first-year salary, which is reasonable for an allied health credential.

The challenge here isn't the program's relative position—it's the absolute earning power. At just under $23,000 annually, graduates are earning barely above minimum wage in many markets, and there's little room for earnings growth above this level nationally. With 72% of students receiving Pell grants, the typical WellSpring student is starting from a financially vulnerable position. That $18,000 in debt represents a real burden on a $23,000 income, even if it's lower than what students at competing programs face.

For families considering this path, the question is whether manual therapy work aligns with long-term career goals that might justify the modest starting point. WellSpring delivers what appears to be fair value within this field, but the field itself offers limited financial upside. This works as a stepping stone if your student has a clear plan to build additional credentials or open their own practice—less so as a standalone endpoint.