Academically fine programs in massage therapy are available in the California Community College system for a small fraction of the price of what is charged in the private sector, and have the further advantage of having transferable credit units toward higher degrees in the 23-campus California State University and 10-campus University of California systems.
Apr 30, 2008 Rating
Monterey Peninsula College by: Carl W. Nelson
Monterey Peninsula College
Massage Therapy Program
980 Fremont Avenue
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 646-4231 Fax: (831) 645-1334
http://www.mpc.edu
Email: paultuff@redshift.com
Monterey Peninsula College founded in 1947 is one of 109 California Community Colleges.
The Massage Therapy Program is part of the Physical Fitness department at Monterey Peninsula College. The Massage Therapy Program began in the spring of 1994 and currently consists of three options.
The tuition at Monterey Peninsula College (and at California Community Colleges in general) for California residents is currently $20 per unit. The cost for Californians pursuing the Massage Practitioner Certificate (Option One: 338 class hours, 10 to 12 units) is therefore $200 to $240. The tuition for earning the Massage Therapist Certificate granted to students who complete the requirements for the Certificate of Achievement in
Massage Therapy (Option Two: 752 to 912 class hours, 29 to 30 units) is $580 to $600. Option Three: the Associate in Science Degree in Massage Therapy includes the requirements of the Certificate of Achievement 29 to 30 units from above, plus the
General Education Requirements of 17 units and Electives of 13 to 14 units, totaling 60 units with a tuition for California residents of $1200. Please note that tuition does not cover books, materials, housing, food, or parking fees.
California Community Colleges have the lowest tuition of any college or university in the United States according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The uniform tuition for the community college system is set by the state legislature with the approval of the governor. With community colleges in other states ranging from $60 to $250 per unit for residential students, we pay $20 per unit. We are the least expensive compared to the educational quality, value, and variety and number of classes offered for the price. I think it is by far the best deal for education in the United States. Nowhere else can one obtain a professional massage education at such a low price, let alone receiving an Associate in Science or an Associate in Arts Degree in Massage Therapy for a mere $1200 tuition.
