Home › Illinois › Massage Therapy schools
24 schools in Illinois offer massage therapy-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data.
Illinois requires a state license from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to practice massage therapy. Applicants complete 600 hours of supervised instruction in an approved program, pass the MBLEx or NCBTMB exam, and clear a fingerprint background check. Renewal is every two years with 25 hours of continuing education, including a required hour on domestic violence and sexual assault awareness starting with the 2026 renewal.
Official source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Massage Licensing Board · Exam: MBLEx (FSMTB) or NCBTMB examination · Typical requirement: 600 clock hours of supervised classroom and hands-on instruction in an approved program; age 18+, high school diploma, fingerprint criminal background check; roughly $225 in initial fees
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby | public | $2,232 | 37.2% | $40,810 |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon | public | $2,254 | 55% | $38,877 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | public | $2,829 | 29.6% | $43,892 |
| Kishwaukee College | Malta | public | $4,574 | 36.6% | $39,657 |
| Morton College | Cicero | public | $5,191 | 26.2% | $42,406 |
| Shawnee Community College | Ullin | public | $4,162 | 42.1% | $32,999 |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | public | $6,026 | 32.5% | $45,516 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | public | $5,541 | 31.7% | $34,096 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | public | $7,607 | 34.1% | $43,424 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | public | $8,048 | 29.5% | $38,320 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | public | $7,220 | 28.8% | $32,427 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | public | $11,607 | 38.4% | $48,071 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | public | $11,442 | 32.2% | $44,788 |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Olney | public | $10,092 | 56.1% | $37,533 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | public | $10,427 | 33.1% | $36,884 |
| Southeastern Illinois College | Harrisburg | public | $11,437 | 39.3% | $33,763 |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | public | $12,961 | 36.3% | $37,366 |
| Estelle Medical Academy | Skokie | private for-profit | $8,628 | 92.2% | $24,290 |
| Universal Spa Training Academy | Downers Grove | private for-profit | $21,965 | 95.1% | $41,928 |
| First Institute of Travel Inc. | Crystal Lake | private for-profit | $20,528 | 74.8% | $36,196 |
| University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts | Springfield | private for-profit | $16,000 | 61.8% | $27,084 |
| Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois | Springfield | private for-profit | $27,793 | 71.9% | $33,601 |
| Pacific College of Health and Science | Chicago | private for-profit | not reported | 35.7% | $26,209 |
| Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy | Chicago | private for-profit | not reported | not reported | $32,349 |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
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