Online massage therapy degree?
I’ve checked into a few online colleges that provide degrees for massage therapy. I reside in Ohio, so I know I’d have to pass the state exam…just wondering if anyone else has done this around the state and if anyone would know how much financial aid I may be eligible to get. I am a wife and mother, and I have a part-time job, and I don’t think that the "college-campus" life is right for me now. I’d really appreciate any advice or comments 
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July 6th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
I have not studied massage therapy and don’t reside in Ohio, but I can answer about financial aid. The maximum an independent freshman can borrow in stafford loans is $9,500/year. Grants vary in amounts and will be determined based on your income and your husband’s income, household size, etc. The maximum Pell grant for 2010-2011 is $5,550/year. If you visit the fafsa website (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) and look under the FAQs section, it will list all of the federal grants available. State grants vary greatly, but you also have to turn your fafsa application in by your state’s deadline to receive any… Ohio’s deadline is October 1, 2010 (which is really late for a state deadline - that’s good for you).
The person who stated you will have to take core classes on campus is incorrect. If you choose a school that is 100% online, then you will never go to a campus. There are some online schools that require campus visits - but, they are not classified as 100% online. I have taken a blend of online classes and night classes (due to being a single mom and working full-time). I love taking classes at the school (night classes) because it allows me a rare chance to meet with others in similar positions (80-90% of the students in night classes have families and work full-time), plus if I have questions about assignments… I can get answers more clearly than I can online. However, the good thing about online classes is that you can complete the work when it’s convenient for you… usually that’s after my son’s in bed and all night on the weekends for me. Make sure that you choose an online school that is regionally-accredited so that your credits will be eligible for transfer. You cannot predict the future, and you may find that you’ve chosen a school that you hate. If your credits aren’t transferable you’ll either have to stick with your chosen school or start all over again (which is a waste of valuable time and money). Good luck to you.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Getting your degree online will never replace getting one in person. I am 28 and I am going back to school. If you took a handful of people on my campus, I would say 3 out of 10 are over 40. Financial aid is really tricky when you use online colleges. Massage therapy, like many other degrees WILL require you to go to the campus to attend class at some point. Your core class like English, science, history, etc. can all be done online or CLEP’ed.
For financial aid though, apply when you apply for your schools and fill it out at FAFSA.ed.gov. Include all school codes that you are applying for. You have to take a minimum of 6 semester hours to receive financial aid and at that point you only get a portion of it. There are probably scholarships for moms returning to school, so talk to your finaid counselor and look at fastweb.com for some answers.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Once you narrow down some colleges, a website you might want to try in regards to financial aid is http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=heritage+college&s=all
This website will show you how likely your chances are for getting financial aid assistance. As you’ll see, some schools are better than others in giving out aid to students. Each schools financial aid office is different..Be warned that the website loads slow because it is loading data from an education server.
***Another website that loads alot faster is http://www.american-school-search.com/review/heritage-college-oklahoma-city
Type in your own college name at the top…
The default school on the above link Heritage College, for example has a loan availability of 78%, which is a pretty high ratio of students attending that are able to receive loans. Compare your schools to eachother to see where their financial aid office is at distributing loans to their students.
This may help you make your decision in getting loan/financial aid assistance