Massage Therapy at PCI Academy-Ames

Ames, IA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services

a compact campus enrolling 170 students in Ames, IA.

Program Analysis

At $26,872 per year, Massage Therapy graduates from PCI Academy-Ames significantly outpace the $20,587 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Some AI exposure exists in Massage Therapy's career paths, with 27% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $5,827 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #16 of 224 programs, PCI Academy-Ames's Massage Therapy program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $31,939 are relatively flat compared to the $26,872 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Massage Therapy has a registered apprenticeship option through Certified Massage Therapist (Cmt) with a median wage of $57,950/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

43 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
38
Low End
43
Score
43
High End
Earnings $26,872/yr (31% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (73% shielded)
Job Market Large (52,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$329K
4.4% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$5,827
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,939
19% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Massage Therapy graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Massage therapists $57,950 +15.4% 93%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Massage therapists
$57,950
+15.4% growth 93% AI-proof

Massage Therapy Career Guide

Massage Therapy opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Massage Therapy career guide →

Compare & Explore

Massage Therapy Overview

Massage Therapy at Other Schools

Other Majors at PCI Academy-Ames

Frequently Asked Questions

How does PCI Academy-Ames's Massage Therapy program score?
At 43/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Massage Therapy programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
What's the typical debt for Massage Therapy graduates from PCI Academy-Ames?
Median debt of just $5,827 against $26,872/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What's the job market like for Massage Therapy from PCI Academy-Ames?
At 52,100 annual openings, Massage Therapy has a large employment base. PCI Academy-Ames graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →