Investing in Your Future:
Financing Your Massage Therapy Education
At Living Essence Massage Institute, we are committed to making your professional dreams accessible.
Exceptional Return on Investment
Our focused 33-week certification program is designed to launch you quickly into a thriving career with substantial earning potential:
Quick Career Entry: Begin working immediately upon graduation through a limited permit.
Earning Power: New graduates working full-time as massage therapists can expect to earn $50,000+ in their first year of full licensure.
Long-term Growth: Established practitioners with their own practices regularly earn $100,000+ annually.
Program Investment
We've created an Investment Calculator to help students in choosing the right massage therapy program. This tool enables a side-by-side comparison between our full-time 7.5-month program and a part-time 18-month program, clarifying the path to becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist and outlining potential earnings over the next three years.
Schedule a quick meeting with our team to review how to best use this interactive tool and learn more about our program
The tuition, materials, and fees for the 1000-Hour Massage Certification Program total $20,995, which is pre-populated in the Investment Calculator to help clarify costs and your return on investment.
Grants, Scholarships, & More
In addition to the scholarships listed below, we suggest you conduct your own scholarship search. Students may find general scholarships available from their community, bank, church, employer, or parent’s employer.
Every effort is made to maintain the viability of the links below, and to assure these scholarships pertain to students attending Living Essence Massage Institute. Please notify us of any changes you encounter so we can offer the most current information.
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ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation), is a New York State agency that provides services to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain employment. If you believe you may qualify for ACCES-VR support, start by reaching out to your local ACCES-VR office.
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Tompkins County Workforce Development Grants
Financial assistance is available for eligible students through Tompkins County Workforce Development, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (USDOL WIOA).
Qualified applicants can receive up to a $10,000 grant applied directly toward tuition.
Eligibility & Qualification Criteria To secure the grant award, candidates must meet Tompkins County WIOA guidelines by demonstrating:
Financial Need: Meeting regional income or dislocated worker eligibility standards.
Training Readiness: Demonstrated capability to successfully complete the program requirements.
Employment Commitment: Clear intent and readiness to work in the massage therapy field upon graduation.
How to Apply: Interested candidates must schedule an intake assessment with a Career Specialist at the Tompkins County Workforce Development Career Center to verify eligibility and establish a training plan. The first step is to complete THIS 'interest survey,’ which will allow you to schedule an information session and then be assigned to a Career Specialist.
The process of determining eligibility and ultimately receiving a grant award takes roughly 4-6 weeks on average from the point of entry (completing the survey link above).
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The Townsend Wellness Scholarship.
We are thrilled to announce The Townsend Wellness Scholarship, a $5,000 tuition award created to support incoming massage therapy students as they begin their journey into professional bodywork and holistic care. Generously funded by benefactor Barb Townsend VanDine, this scholarship was established to ease the financial path for prospective students while inspiring broader community support for future healers.
Application & Selection Details
Award Amount: $5,000 (applied directly toward tuition for the next incoming cohort)
Eligibility: Open to incoming massage therapy students
Selection Process: To ensure objectivity, applications are reviewed by an outside committee, using a double-blind, rubric-based evaluation that assesses:
Career Intent & Professional Readiness
Financial Need
Resilience & Commitment to the Profession
Review Cycle: Applications are reviewed quarterly, with awards applied to the next incoming cohort
Application Requirements
Through the online application form, applicants will be asked to submit:
Essay reflecting your professional goals and motivation
Relevant financial documentation
Professional letter of recommendation
Ready to take the next step? Complete and submit your application online:
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A $5,000 scholarship sweepstakes is held each quarter to support students currently enrolled in massage and bodywork programs.
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Student scholarships are available on a rolling basis to support the next generation of massage therapists.
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Grants are available for women over 35, low-income, and pursuing either a vocational or technical education or working toward a bachelor’s or associate's degree for the first time.
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The Massage Envy National Scholarship Sweepstakes for Massage Therapists provides 128 winners with $2,500 each to help fund their education in massage therapy school over 16 drawings.
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$1,500 awarded to a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, participation, and leadership in school activities and work experience and interest in pursuing a career in the health and fitness-related fields.
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Fellowships and grants for women pursuing higher education.
Visit the The American Association of University Women website.
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LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
Whether you're beginning a new career or expanding your knowledge, Living Essence Massage Institute provides the tools to cultivate a meaningful, fulfilling practice that supports personal and professional transformation.
Financing Solutions
We understand that investing in education requires planning. If you have a strong relationship with a lending institution, you may consider starting there. Visions Federal Credit Union specializes in educational financing for healthcare professionals.
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Additional lending options may be available by visiting Credible.com