Massage Therapy Program

Founded in 1916, Swedish Institute has the oldest Massage Therapy Program in the country. Its dynamic curriculum develops strong skills in both Western and Eastern styles of massage, a solid knowledge base in the biosciences, and an emphasis on integration of these components into practical applications in classes and clinics. Business and ethics courses are also an important part of professional development. The program can be taken on either a full-time or part-time basis, with classes available during morning, afternoon, or evening/weekend hours.

Completing the Massage Therapy Program

The Massage Therapy Program is offered as a full-time or part-time course of study. Full-time students can choose a five-semester scheduling option that takes 20 months to complete, or a four-semester scheduling option that takes 16 months to complete. Part-time students complete the program in eight semesters, which generally takes 32 months to complete.

Within the period of July 1, 2011 to June 30 2012, 69.1% of full-time graduates completed the program on time within four semesters, and 87.2% of part-time graduates completed the program on time within eight semesters.

These statistics are reported to our accrediting body, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

Massage Therapy Careers

The Massage Therapy Program is a 64.0 semester-credit-hour program. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive an Associate in Occupational Studies degree. They are also eligible to sit for the New York State licensing exam in massage therapy.

Our graduates pass the exam with a high rate of success; 87.7 percent of first-time Swedish Institute takers passed the exam given in  2012.

The 2012 job placement rate for graduates available for employment is 81.5 percent (combined full-time and part-time cohorts). “Available graduates” exclude those going on for further education and those who cannot work due to medical problems, military commitment, incarceration or foreign student status. This figure is reported annually to our accrediting body, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

• Find out more about licensing in New York State.
• Find out more about the profession of massage therapy (SOC code 31.9011.00).
• Find out more about the skills of a massage therapist from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*net.

Cost

The total tuition for the program, if completed within the normal time frame, is $28,000.

• Mandatory fees are approximately $888 - $1,184.
• Textbooks and supplies are approximately $1,300.
• For a list of all fees see Tuition and Fees.
• Room and board are not offered.

Financing Your Massage Therapy Education

Students pay for their tuition in a number of ways:

• 86 percent of the 235 students completing the program in the last reporting period (July 2011-June 2012) had obtained loans in addition to grants and scholarships to finance their education.
• The median cumulative debt from Federal loans was $15,577.
• The median cumulative debt* from private loans was $0.

* Please contact an Admissions Representative if you would like an explanation of this term.

Our U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education identification number (OEPID) is 02170000.