Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Massage Therapists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at De Anza, Fullerton College, West Valley College, and MiraCosta College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Advanced, LA College International, SBBC-Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara Business College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider ICDC, University of Antelope Valley, and LA College International.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Monterey Peninsula College, West Valley College, Pacific College, and De Anza.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of LA College International, De Anza, Santa Barbara Business College, and Monterey Peninsula College.
Excellence
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at SBBC-Santa Maria and Santa Barbara Business College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield, SJVC Modesto, and ICDC.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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National Holistic Institute • Emeryville, CA
Studying Core 720 Program - Massage Therapy (completion in 2010)
• 5/2/2011
"I am very satisfied, mostly because the school taught me some pretty unique holistic techniques that I have been able to implement. They also helped me get a job pretty quickly, which, in this economy, I definitely appreciate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Because people who pick up massage therapy are normally trying to either supplement one income or are leaving their old work field, I would definitely recommend this school. They teach you really well and help set you up with work. Overall it was a great experience and I definitely recommend it, as long as you can afford it. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Because my school focuses on holistic techniques, it's much more specialized than other schools. Most people seem to find that pretty appealing, but overall most of my clients aren't too familiar with the school's reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I like that my school taught a variety of techniques instead of focusing on just one. The school had really great teachers, but again was pretty expensive. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers were really good and seemed pretty experienced. Overall they taught us all different types of techniques, which has definitely been helpful in my work. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There were a lot of different techniques to learn, so there was a lot to handle. But the pace of our coursework was good and the teachers made sure you knew exactly what you were doing before you moved forward. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did slightly more hands on stuff. For me, this was definitely a better way to learn, but I understand why the books are important too. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There isn't too much flexibility, but the school did have a lot of offerings. For me it was easy to keep up with classes because I didn't have a job at the time. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities were really nice and so were the learning materials they gave us. Overall, it wasn't very high tech though, but that was probably because it has a more "holistic" angle. |
| Social Life | 8 | The class was mostly made up of girls, but some guys too. Overall, everyone was very friendly, but I think that was more the nature of my school than the program itself. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They were able to get me a job pretty much right away. They were super helpful and made sure to assist me when I needed help. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I still talk to people from my program, and the school does a good job of helping alumni to get jobs. But other than that I don't participate in any alumni programs. |
Kaplan College • Riverside, CA
Studying Massage Therapy Program (completion in 2010)
• 5/3/2011
"The school was fun and it was easy to learn. Instructors were fantastic."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is the best school in the area for this field. I highly recommend this school for its massage programs. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | After the investigation by Congress, the reputations of for-profit schools aren't so good. Despite this, Kaplan has the best reputation of them all. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school was very fun and educational. I learned a ton of useful information that helped me get certified in the state of CA. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teachers and staff were fantastic. They did a good job of teaching us relevant and up-to-date information. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program was difficult and satisfying. It wasn't overwhelming, but there was enough work to feel like you get your money's worth. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of book learning at the beginning of the program. After that, there was a great deal of hands on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They offer both night and day classes. There is always availability, so you can pick which ever works best for you. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | There is no library. They have a computer room, though. |
| Social Life | 6 | I have nothing in common with others who went to this school, so I didn't make many friends. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The career placement program got me a great job. They worked hard to help me out. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | There is no alumni network that I know of. They do have job placement programs, though. |
American Institute Of Massage Therapy • Santa Ana, CA
Studying Sports Massage Therapist (completion in 2005)
• 12/4/2011
"I enjoyed the small class sizes. I wish there were more resources and more modalities taught."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | There are other schools that offer more in terms of curriculum, resources, job placement, etc. |
| Program Reputation | No one has ever heard of the school in the industry. It's very small. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | I feel that the school was just a business. It was not established with the student in mind. |
| Instruction | 5 | We were taught the very basics. The business and economic side of massage was not addressed. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It wasn't difficult. Anatomy is hard, but that's about it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's a decent mix of both. Massage is naturally hands on, so there is no avoiding that. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | They have two options. Morning or evening. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Resources are scarce. Staff support is nonexistent. |
| Social Life | 1 | The classes are too small to establish any outside activities. They don't have any events. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They have a job board, but it isn't updated frequently. They have no established relationships with employers, unlike other schools. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no such thing in existence. There is no support. |
Everest College • Hayward, CA
Studying Massage Therapy (completion in 2008)
• 12/14/2011
"I was satisfied, primarily because I learned a lot and it ultimately got me to my goal of becoming a CMT. The school experience also made me more in tune with myself."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Everest is in an area that is not so great. For people who did not care about that, I would definitely recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Everest College offers several different specialized training programs. Massage therapy is not one of the programs they are most known for, but many aspiring massage therapists keep Everest as an option for their coursework. |
| Program Quality | 8 | In the middle of my program, my teacher was promoted to principal of the school, so it was a huge interruption that made it more difficult to adjust. However, they offered lots of good firsthand training. |
| Instruction | 8 | It was difficult after my teacher left, because she knew my learning style and was familiar with my learning disability. Had there not been this interruption, I would say the training was flawless. My original teacher was very knowledgeable and this allowed me to succeed. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There was a lot of memorization of anatomy and physiology, which required a lot of studying after class. But with outside training involved, I was able to learn about our own bodies and understand what I did. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my experience, the first half of the class was from the book and the second part of the class was lab. The training also involved off-site experience, to get firsthand exposure. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | When I attended this school in 2008, there were no weekend course options, nor were there online options; however, they had evening courses available. I do not know if they have changed since. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There were computer labs available and good guidance counseling. Professors were approachable at all times when they were on campus, and there was an abundance of resources for students. |
| Social Life | 4 | Since this was a school without sports teams, there was not a lot of school spirit present. The closest thing we had to social events was when a class was completed, teachers would have a potluck. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They make a very strong effort to find the right jobs for their students, after completion of the coursework. They also help students construct their resumes and cover letters. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Everest College offered a lot of one-on-one counseling for support. They also help students find a job in their field of study after graduating. |
California Healing Arts College • West Los Angeles, CA
Studying Massage Therapy (completion in 1995)
• 1/8/2012
"I really like CA Healing Arts. I recommend this school to anyone who is interested. There are so many great classes, payment options, etc. Great school with a great reputation!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school to others pursuing massage therapy. There are excellent instructors. It is a very clean school. They have great classes and easy payment plans, and you will find work after you graduate! They also answer all of your questions. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have only heard excellent things about the school. I have also heard massage therapy is still a great field to get into. |
| Program Quality | 10 | One of the best schools ever! I loved it. They teach a lot of different classes. |
| Instruction | 10 | They were the best instructors! Very in depth and I learned a lot. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It is very physically demanding and you are on your feet a lot. I also had to work while going to school. It was not easy and was very expensive. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mainly hands on with massage therapy. But we did have a lot of reading; there were anatomy, physiology, herbology, aromatherapy, and first aid/CPR classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It was great, because there were morning classes, night classes, and weekend classes. One time I needed to switch, and they offered a lot of flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The school is not that large. The classes were nicely sized. There was not much of a school library. |
| Social Life | 10 | We had a few great parties and events at the school. We also had great guest speakers and I learned a lot. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They have pretty good career placement. But as always, it is best to assert yourself. We cannot depend on a school to get us a job. There is always work as a massage therapist if you are good at it. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | There are always great job offers after you graduate. I do keep in touch with a few alumni and we job network. |
Silicon Valley College, Now Carrington College • Antioch, CA
Studying Massage Therapy (completion in 2006)
• 2/17/2012
"Again, I felt like the school was just a diploma mill and didn't really care about us too much. However, I'm still a massage therapist 6 years later, so I'm happy for what they did do for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The schooling now is too expensive. It is like $15,000 the last I heard. I really feel that that is way too expensive, when you consider how many massages you will have to do to pay off your student loan plus interest. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There are lots of commercials for Carrington College and the facility looks nice. But lots of former students don't turn out to be massage therapists. |
| Program Quality | 4 | I felt like my school was just a diploma mill. I thought the educational hours were OK and my instructor was OK too. |
| Instruction | 4 | My teacher only had three years of experience. The instructor should have had more experience, in my opinion. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Everyone in the class got A's except for one person. As long as you tried, you succeeded. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In every class we read from books and had homework from textbooks. In every class we also did hands on work, massaging each other. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It was very flexible. I took night classes during the week which was nice because I had a daytime job. It also helped out a lot of single moms who were students. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | When I went the classroom was pretty run-down. However, we did have all the materials we needed, books, massage tables, etc., to get the job done. |
| Social Life | 8 | Usually everyone got along and people were friends. There was only one incident where two girls got into a non-physical fight. |
| Placement Services | 2 | While I was going, the girl there did nothing to help me find a job. But it seems like things have gotten better in the last few years, since the spa I work at always seems to be getting calls from the school looking to place their current students in a job. |
| Alumni Network | I don't know what an alumni network is. |
California State Dominguez Hills • Carson, CA
Studying Applied Studies (completion in 2012)
• 2/11/2012
"The school program allowed me to study while working and pursuing my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program is one of the best for working students who want to continue their education without having to stop their job. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Many working people enroll in the program. The program is the best for workers wanting to progress in their fields. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school's program is online and has allowed me to continue to work while going to school with more ease. |
| Instruction | 10 | All the teachers are very competent and already working in their fields. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program is demanding and challenging. Because of the fact that it is online, the faculty wants to make sure that students participate in daily discussions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Every single class has many projects to do that are directly connected to real life experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The online program offers classes year round. Some of them are totally online, others are to be followed at a certain day and time during the week. |
| Academic Facilities | Since the program is online, I do not have access to any of the services that the university offers. | |
| Social Life | I haven't had any contact with other students besides through chat and e-mail. | |
| Placement Services | I haven't used it yet. I do not know how the quality of the job placement or career assistance is. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't used the alumni network and support yet. I will use it when I graduate in Spring. |
Institute Of Psych-Structural Balancing • Culver City, CA
Studying Massage Therapist Training - 550 Hour Program (completion in 2002)
• 2/10/2012
"Was satisfied with the classes. Was not too satisfied with the price of tutoring."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I just did not feel comfortable with the "natural" people. They were too open and huggy. Kind of seemed fake to me. I would probably let the person know who is going to pursue massage therapy that the school itself is good, but the teachers and the students seemed fake to me. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I have not heard anything negative about the school. Well, maybe they are too expensive. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I think that group of people was just too "hippyish" for me. |
| Instruction | 8 | Their professional ethics class was wonderful. Really helped me when I started working. Was nice to know what to expect and what to do in certain situations. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Was difficult to learn all the bones and all the muscles and the movements of the muscles. It was very rewarding when I did learn them all. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They would do practical for an hour or 2 then do theory for an hour or two. was nice, not too exhausting. And I liked the way we practiced on each other, so we knew what it felt like to not only practice the strokes, but what it felt like to receive the strokes too. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Was very flexible, considering you cold make up the hours by private or group tutoring. I'm sure that's what they were hoping for, cause they charged an arm and a leg for tutoring. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | No real library, you can bring your own laptop, class space was 2 decent size rooms, teachers were good and made learning fun, tutors were ALWAYS available (for a price). No real study group support. Class sizes were small, so it was easy to get a few minutes with a teacher to ask questions if needed. |
| Social Life | I did not socialize with my classmates too much. Just wanted to get my hours in and get out. | |
| Placement Services | 3 | It was only a cork board with a few listings of places that were hiring or renting a room. So, it's not like they really went out of their way to help someone get a job. |
| Alumni Network | I don't talk to anyone from my classes anymore. So, as far as the alumni network goes, I'm not too sure. |
Poway Academy Of Beauty • Poway, CA
Studying ESTI/CMT (completion in 2004)
• 3/7/2012
"I am glad I chose this line of work. I like working to help people feel better, but I really chose the wrong school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Heck no! The school changed names and owners after I graduated, so even if I wanted to, my school doesn't exist anymore. |
| Program Reputation | Program is no longer offered. Has not been offered since not long after I graduated. | |
| Program Quality | 1 | Books were out of date. Program is no longer offered. |
| Instruction | 3 | Instructors had no real world experiences or knowledge. Most had graduated from school and just became instructors. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Work was very easy. I was disappointed by the lack of challenges. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The only time we did hands on work is when the school had clinics for paying clients. We took 3-4 paying customers per night. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Only weekdays or weekday evenings. No weekends or online classes are available. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | Classrooms were small and dirty. There was no library, books, or videos beyond our textbooks. |
| Social Life | 3 | There wasn't school spirit. We paid to go to school, and spent the time there trying to learn and prepare for our new jobs. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They did not have any job listings that met my criteria. Most of the listings were for HHPs or cosmetologists. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | School changed name after I graduated. There is no alumni support at all. |
Milan Institute • Visalia, CA
Studying Massage Therapy (completion in 2010)
• 3/22/2012
"What ruined the experience I had at Milan was my teacher. She was very nice, but lazy. She sat there instead of walking around giving us pointers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I did not like the teacher I had. I would really research the teacher before committing to a school like Milan. I consider Milan more of an introduction to the field. I would not pay that much money again for a school that felt like an introduction to a career. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | I would say it is a lot like other quick technician schools and programs. You get what you pay for, meaning because it is such a fast paced program, it doesn't give the details that you need to succeed. I feel like I need to take more classes. |
| Program Quality | 2 | The teacher I had was extremely lazy. She would sit at her desk the majority of the time. The program was not organized very well. For example, we were expected to be able to do hot stone massages in clinic, yet, we only saw the teacher give a hot stone massage once, and did not practice in class. |
| Instruction | 2 | The best experience I had was learning about the interview process, getting my resume out to businesses, and how to market myself. As far as massage goes, it was very choppy. We would practice each modality for a week or less. |
| How Difficult | 2 | The work load was extremely easy. On some tests, the teacher would give us the answer key the day before, so we could memorize the answers and ace the test the next day. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We were very hands on, being a massage program, which is nice. But I do not believe all of the teachers were hands on. It would have been nice if my teacher watched us work so we could get pointers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | This is a perfect school for those who need flexibility. You can either go to school at night or day. They do not provide weekend classes, which I could see benefiting some people. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | We actually were moved to a different building part way through. The computer room was very nice in the new building. Teachers were not always available, and they often got there right when their classes started. They also did not have office hours where you could ask questions outside of class. I do not know of any tutoring services. |
| Social Life | 5 | Being that the school was comprised of mostly females, we did have drama. We had parties (holidays, birthdays). Nothing out of the ordinary or exceptional. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Milan had a great career services. They gave us multiple practice interviews, helped us prepare resumes and cover letters, and even helped a lot of people find jobs after. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They are helpful in helping you find a job. I do not have a good explanation for this one, because I moved out of state, so they could not help me very much, but from what I hear, the school was very supportive of alumni. |
School Of Healing Arts • San Diego, CA
Studying Massage Therapist (completion in 2012)
• 3/20/2012
"I am very satisfied with both the price of tuition and the facilities. I also enjoy learning from the staff and enjoy the range of students. Training for my career as a massage therapist has been a pleasure. I will continue to use this school for further certification."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I absolutely would recommend this school. They are flexible and can tailor your classes to your interests, which I don't believe is common with this type of training. The staff and tutors are very passionate and experts in their field, and you will receive excellent training here. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe this school has a very good reputation. Many people I know in the industry know of the school. Some have studied there and have good things to say about it. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Excellent, reasonable tuition. Excellent tutors and facilities. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction at this school is very high. The tutors know their trade well and are able to convey techniques and theory while making it interesting. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It is a fairly physically demanding career. Studying can be easy if you enjoy it, but there are days when it is tiring, both mentally and physically. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Definitely a mix of academic learning and hands on practice. Some classes are more geared toward study from books - anatomy, physiology, and pathology being some that are more book orientated. All techniques classes require hands on training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Most classes run more than once a year and will usually be run in the day time and evening time, giving people an opportunity to study when it suits their schedules. Some of the classes can be taken at home, saving time and travel for the student. I would say they are very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Excellent tutors and equipment. Ample supplies. Some supplies can be bought at a discount for students through the school, which is a great bonus. |
| Social Life | 9 | There are many social events throughout the year that encourage meeting people in similar/same careers and the general public who can become clients. Workshops are also run multiple times during the year, giving people access to a wide variety of clients and therapists. |
| Placement Services | 8 | As mentioned previously, there is a massage clinic sharing the premises, which is often a great first job opportunity for graduated students. The teachers and director of this school also have connections and plenty of helpful advice and information regarding jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | There are a wealth of opportunities for therapists graduating from this school. Some of the tutors are able to provide information and opportunities for jobs. The school also shares a building with a massage clinic and students can often find work there upon completion of their training. |
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