In this article you will discover 9 ideas to finance massage school. One of these creative ideas alone may be able to cover your tuition, but if not, there are some more options available. If you choose to start a career in massage therapy you need to be aware of the many sources for financial aid that can help propel your career. These financial aids can vary, however, can help you continue your education and become a successful massage therapist without worrying about your financial constraints.
Various types of massage therapist’s financial options are available by federal and state governments, as well as, personal loans, schools, social, and economic forums. Massage therapy is a fantastic career with a flexible routine and competitive pay and can allow you to pay back what you borrow in a timely manner.
Mostly, the barrier to getting started with a massage therapy career is paying for school and tuition. Take note that when evaluating massage therapy schools, you will generally find that a school is either accredited or non-accredited.
There are plenty of ways to fund your therapy career and outlined below are 9 ideas to help you finance massage school.
#1: Take out loan to finance massage school
The first option that I would suggest is using a local bank and taking out secured or non-secured personal or student loan. A personal or student loan from a bank can cover the full tuition of massage school and the additional expenses that are associated, such as a massage table, books, etc. Be sure to make the monthly payments on time to build your credit for starting your business once you graduate.
#2: Borrow from friends or family
The second option for funding massage school is to ask for friends or family to loan you the money by convincing them about your desire to become a licensed massage therapist. This can be good only if you approach this as a business proposition and you structure the terms professionally.
Talk to them about your desire to enroll in a massage therapy school and draw up a method for repayment that will include interest to make it beneficial for them to loan to you. There are many websites that help you and your partners track payments and balances as you pay off your debt.
#3: Loan yourself money from a 401k
The third option is to loan yourself money from your 401k or retirement fund. If you have a 401k you can take money out and pay it back over a few years with interest. Once it is paid off, it will feel as if you never borrowed from it and you will have a new job and career in massage therapy. There are pros and cons to borrowing from a 401k to finance massage school. You should take some time to explore the advantages and disadvantages.
#4: Get federal financial aid
The fourth option is to get federal financial aid. You can apply for a student loan from the federal government to pay for your massage therapy tuition. You will need to talk to your local government agents and deal with them directly.
This is a great way to enroll in school while using government funding and not dipping into your own savings. Some schools participate in the Federal Title IV Program that include, Pell Grants, SEOG Grants, Subsidized Stafford Direct Loans, Federal Parent PLUS Direct Loans, and Unsubsidized Stafford Direct Loans.
#5: Education benefit programs
A fifth suggestion is to talk to your current company about employer tuition assistance programs. Some jobs offer incentive programs to help their employees pursue secondary education. You will not know if you do not ask, so go ahead and check into it. Also note that many clinics are known to help pay for students tuition in exchange for gaining an employee that is fully skilled and accredited.
#6: Apply for a massage therapy scholarships
There are plenty of companies, schools, and organizations that will offer a scholarship to a student enrolling in massage therapy, depending on certain circumstances and requirements. You will have to search the internet for resources that offer scholarships for students. I suggest you use Google and find out what may be available in certain states.
#7: Pay for massage therapy education with a GI Bill
If you are a military veteran the GI Bill may be able to help you with funding and finding different options available for covering the tuition costs related to pursuing your education.
#8: Work part-time while you are attending school
Being able to cover your living expenses and part of your tuition while working on a part-time job schedule is another option for helping cover the expenses related to funding your education. There are many choices for raising funds to finance your therapy education and licenses while being a student at a massage school.
#9: Apply for a grant to finance massage school
There are different organizations that provide funding for people who are looking to have their tuition expenses covered through a grant. There are many groups that supply students with bursaries and grants. Google will be your best friend when you try this option. I suggest this idea because you can get your whole tuition paid for or a portion of it for free.
In Conclusion
Ultimately there are plenty of other options available for finding methods to pay for massage therapy school. You are only limited by your imagination. I suggest you research different ways to earn money to pay for massage school for you will be more than likely well rewarded when you graduate and start to work. When there is a will there is a way. Try one of the 9 ideas above for financing your massage therapy education today! For more information on massage therapy financing and classes, contact an admissions specialist at DiscoveryPoint School of Massage or Facebook.