Denver, CO – Massage therapy programs across the U.S. may soon face steep federal funding challenges as new loan and grant rules take effect in 2026. Because many massage programs operate as clock-hour certificates at for-profit institutions, they fall directly into the categories most vulnerable under the updated federal standards.
According to federal guidance, massage therapy programs that are unaccredited, non-credit, under 150 clock hours, or structured as short, fast-track trainings are not eligible for Title IV financial aid. Programs between 150 and 600 hours must now meet Workforce Pell requirements, which mandate a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and program costs that do not exceed graduates’ value-added earnings from prior cohorts.
Massage programs also face heightened risk under the new “low earnings outcomes” rule beginning July 1, 2026. Federal officials will compare graduates’ median earnings four years after completion to earnings of adults with only a high school diploma. If graduates earn the same or less for two out of three years, the program will lose access to federal Direct Loans. Because massage therapy wages vary widely by state and often fluctuate seasonally, many programs could struggle to meet these thresholds.
Schools warn these constraints could reduce enrollment or force some programs to close entirely.
