Scholarships for Massage Therapy Students
The benefits of massage therapy are becoming more widely known as people with chronic pain, arthritis, stress, depression, and poor circulation regularly confirm how massage has helped to alleviate their symptoms.
Typically, a massage therapist is someone who enjoys helping people and promotes the general wellbeing of others with their skills. So if you're thinking a future in massage therapy might be for you, you're probably also wondering how you'll reach your goals.
Obviously, you'll need training to pass the state board test. One way to get that training is through college courses, which can lead to an associate's degree in massage therapy. With an associate's degree, you'll demonstrate that you've successfully completed the prescribed coursework on your way to becoming a professional.
Paying for Massage Therapy Courses
You can obtain your training in a number of ways, but when you enroll in college courses, you may have an opportunity to obtain scholarships and grants that could pay some of your tuition or other expenses.
Most likely you'll be putting together a mix of grants, scholarships, and loans to pay for your college courses. This funding may come from your state, corporations, and private organizations, but most eligible, needs-based students rely on grants from the Federal government.
As you research these grants and other financial awards, you will find they are based on two categories: need, for those students demonstrating the greatest financial hardship, and merit-based, which are tied in with good grades and other performance factors, such as community involvement and personal achievements. In some cases, your location and cultural heritage might be factors in obtaining awards.
Federal Financial Aid
The most popular financial aid source for college students in need is the Federal Pell Grant. Other sources include the Stafford Loan, Federal Parental Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and the Federally-funded work study program.
Other financial assistance programs to ask your college financial aid advisor about are as follows:
- Military tuition assistance
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Veterans benefits
- Tuition Assistance Student Loan Program (TASL)
The college you enroll in may also have scholarships available for graduating high school students and military personnel and their dependents.
Massage Therapy Scholarships
Scholarships are available for students in almost every field of endeavor, including massage therapy. Scholarships for massage therapy students were once rare, but now are increasing.
While a financial aid counselor can help find some financial aid, it's up to the student to do thorough research for additional sources. Always be careful when researching scholarships. Check and double check independent scholarship sources and look for reviews if you're skeptical.
Here are some scholarships specifically aimed at massage therapy students seeking training.
The Bob King Massage Therapy Student Scholarship awards $5000 once a year to a student who demonstrates excellence in the study of massage therapy. Applicants should be enrolled in an entry-level program when they submit their applications. The American Massage Therapy Association funds the scholarship.
The Successful Hands Grant Program helps students prepare for a future in massage therapy. Applicants should be enrolled in massage therapy school and must submit a 200-word essay. Eight winners will be awarded grants of $1000 each.
Imagine Scholarships are available for high school seniors who plan to seek a life in massage. Awardees will receive a $1000 work education scholarship.
The Massage Therapy Foundation offers community service grants with a maximum of $5000. To qualify, you must be a member of a nonprofit massage therapy organization and have demonstrated outstanding work in your field.
Always Remember…
Financing your education can be a confusing task. Before diving in, speak with a financial aid counselor and get to know your options. They can help you make sense of grants, loans, aid, and scholarships and point you in the right direction when you start applying.
Are you interested in learning more about earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy? If you would like to join this exciting and expanding field, be sure to contact a friendly ECPI University admissions advisor today to discuss your options.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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