Massage Therapy Diploma (600 Hours) is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Orion Institute in Perrysburg, OH. The program takes 25 weeks (day) or 35 weeks (evening) to complete, with a total tuition of $10,500.
Program Overview
Orion Institute’s 600-clock-hour Massage Therapy Diploma is a new program option, added by the catalog addendum effective August 18, 2026, alongside the retained 720-hour program. It is designed to give students the knowledge and practical skills for entry-level massage therapy practice and to pursue licensure.
The curriculum combines lecture, laboratory and supervised clinical work: five courses of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and pathology, five courses of ethics and business, five of massage theory and practice, and two terms of public clinic. It runs 25 weeks on the day schedule or 35 weeks in the evening, in five terms, and graduates receive a diploma.
The program teaches the emotional and physical effects, benefits, contraindications and precautions of massage, ethical and professional conduct, and prepares graduates for private practice or supervised employment and for Ohio licensure, including the MBLEx.
What sets this Program apart
- Two schedules. Five 5-week terms by day, or five 7-week terms in the evening.
- A real public clinic. Two 40-hour clinic terms in which students complete the program’s 48 required massages on members of the public, evaluated on intake, communication, conduct and technique.
- MBLEx review built in. A licensure exam review runs during the fourth term, and individual tutoring and licensure exam preparation cost nothing extra.
- Small classes. A maximum of 30 students, with evening classes usually smaller.
- A shorter path. 120 fewer hours and $2,250 less in total cost than the school’s 720-hour program.
Admission Requirements and Process
Orion Institute admits qualified applicants without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or any other status protected by law. Admission occurs only after all applicable requirements are satisfied and an authorized school official signs the enrollment agreement.
General Requirements
- Minimum ageApplicants must be at least 18 years old or obtain written consent of a parent or legal guardian when permitted by law.
- Admissions interviewComplete an admissions interview and campus or virtual program review.
- Application and documentsSubmit a completed application and all required enrollment documents.
- High school diploma or equivalentProvide proof of high school graduation or a recognized equivalent before acceptance. Acceptable evidence includes an official or authenticated diploma, transcript showing…
- Foreign education documentsProvide a certified English translation and an evaluation establishing U.S. high school equivalency for foreign education documents when applicable.
- English proficiencyDemonstrate sufficient English-language proficiency to complete the program.
- Program-specific requirementsMeet any program-specific physical, licensing, or background requirements disclosed before enrollment.
- Distance education technologyMassage Therapy programs use hybrid delivery. Students need reliable broadband internet access and a current computer capable of running Canvas, Zoom, word-processing software,…
Application Process
- 1Meet with an admissions representativeReview program objectives, delivery method, schedule, costs, licensure considerations, employment assistance, student services, and consumer disclosures with an admissions representative, and complete an admissions interview.
- 2Tour the campusTour the campus and instructional facilities, or complete the cancellation-right review available to an applicant who did not visit before enrollment.
- 3Submit your application and documentsContact admissions to submit a completed application and all required enrollment documents, including proof of high school graduation or a recognized equivalent.
- 4Complete the FAFSA and financial aid counselingComplete financial-aid counseling when applicable. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.FAFSA Code for Perrysburg: 037764Fill Out the FAFSA
- 5Review the catalog and sign the enrollment agreementReceive and review the current catalog before signing the enrollment agreement. Enrollment is accepted only when the authorized school official signs and dates the agreement.
- 6Complete orientationBefore beginning a distance education course, each student completes an orientation covering the learning management system, participation expectations, technical support, student services, academic integrity, identity verification, and access to learning resources.
Program Schedule
600 clock hours. The day schedule runs 25 weeks in five 5-week terms; the evening schedule runs 35 weeks in five 7-week terms. The two federal payment periods are hours 1–300 and hours 301–600. The maximum time to complete is 900 attempted hours, or 37.5 weeks by day and 52.5 weeks by evening.
Classes are in continuous session through the year and may be held Monday through Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.; Friday or Saturday attendance may be needed for make-up sessions. Up to 10% of the clock hours in each payment period may be excused, and every excused hour must be made up. The 2026/2027 calendar in the addendum lists term starts across 2026 and into 2027.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Orion Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), which continued the school on Warning in May 2026 and will review it in November 2026; it remains accredited. Orion is approved by the State Medical Board of Ohio and registered with the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Perrysburg Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition ($2,100 per term) | $10,500 |
| Books / Technology Fee | $750 |
| Uniform / MT Kit Fee | $250 |
| Total | $11,500 |
Federal financial aid. Orion Institute is approved to participate in Title IV programs: the Federal Pell Grant, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, FSEOG and Direct PLUS Loans, for those who qualify. Start with the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. The school is also an approved training provider for Ohio Workforce Investment Act programs and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, and is approved for veterans’ benefits.
Paying tuition. Interest-free in-school installment plans are available, and the American Massage Therapy Association offers scholarships to enrolled massage students. No graduation participation fee is charged. State licensing, examination and background-check fees are paid directly to those third parties and are not school charges.
Cancellation and refunds. A student who cancels within five calendar days of signing the enrollment agreement gets all fees back; after that and before the first class, all money paid is refunded less the application and registration fees, and the school keeps no more than $125. After classes begin, tuition for the term is charged by the share of the term completed: 25% under 15%, 50% from 15%, 75% from 25%, and 100% from 40%.
Curriculum
Seventeen courses: 395 lecture hours and 205 lab and clinic hours, 600 in all.
The required courses below are from Orion Institute's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS100 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology I | 30 | 25 | 55 |
| MAS111 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology II | 30 | 25 | 55 |
| MAS121 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology III | 30 | 25 | 55 |
| MAS131 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology IV | 30 | 25 | 55 |
| MAS141 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology V | 30 | 25 | 55 |
| MAS110 | Ethics and Business I | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MAS120 | Ethics and Business II | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MAS130 | Ethics and Business III | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MAS140 | Ethics and Business IV | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MAS150 | Ethics and Business V | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MAS105 | Massage Theory and Practice I | 55 | 0 | 55 |
| MAS112 | Massage Theory and Practice II | 55 | 0 | 55 |
| MAS122 | Massage Theory and Practice III | 55 | 0 | 55 |
| MAS132 | Massage Theory and Practice IV | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| MAS142 | Massage Theory and Practice V | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| MAS123 | Clinic I | 0 | 40 | 40 |
| MAS133 | Clinic II | 0 | 40 | 40 |
| Totals | 395 | 205 | 600 |
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
| MAS100 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology I |
| MAS111 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology II |
| MAS121 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology III |
| MAS131 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology IV |
| MAS141 | Anatomy Physiology Kinesiology and Pathology V |
| MAS110 | Ethics and Business I |
| MAS120 | Ethics and Business II |
| MAS130 | Ethics and Business III |
| MAS140 | Ethics and Business IV |
| MAS150 | Ethics and Business V |
| MAS105 | Massage Theory and Practice I |
| MAS112 | Massage Theory and Practice II |
| MAS122 | Massage Theory and Practice III |
| MAS132 | Massage Theory and Practice IV |
| MAS142 | Massage Theory and Practice V |
| MAS123 | Clinic I |
| MAS133 | Clinic II |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared for entry-level work as massage therapists (SOC 31-9011) once they meet Ohio licensure requirements, or for related healthcare and fitness settings. Orion lists settings such as franchised clinics, chiropractic offices, spas, hotels, fitness centers and sports medicine facilities, and many choose self-employment or open their own practice.
Licensure. Massage Therapy graduates are eligible to apply for Ohio licensure and to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). Applicants apply directly to the State Medical Board of Ohio and must meet its education, examination, application, background-check, age and fee requirements; Orion runs an MBLEx review as institutional support.
Published outcomes. This is a new program option, and the school states that no graduation, employment or licensure rates are available for it yet.
What to expect as a Orion Institute student
Orion Institute runs a single campus at 340 Three Meadows Drive in Perrysburg, Ohio, with no branch campuses or additional locations. The school was founded in fall 1997 as Healing Arts Institute, offering massage therapy instruction, continuing education and massage services, and took the name Orion Institute in late 2015.
The facility has four large classrooms, including a massage classroom with tables, and two private rooms with massage tables, Bose sound and adjustable lighting, plus a clinic classroom, student lounge, learning resource center, retail store and ample free parking. It is equipped with massage tables and chairs, hydrocollators, skeletons, organ and muscle models, and oils and linens. Classes are capped at 30 students, and evening classes are usually smaller.
Online portions run as synchronous Zoom class meetings, with instructor feedback and communication through the Canvas learning management system; class meetings may be recorded. Every student gets access to the LIRN online library, and individual tutoring and licensure exam preparation are included at no extra cost. Classes may be scheduled Monday through Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Career services help graduates wherever they are, with online meetings, mock interviews and job-search techniques, job leads, referrals and on-campus job fairs. The school does not guarantee employment or wages.