by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 45 U.S. colleges awarded 1,453 degrees and certificates in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $31,215 one year after completing, rising to $38,117 after four years.
Studying Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine involves the study of Acupuncture And Oriental Medicine. A Program That Prepares Individuals For The Independent Professional Practice Of Acupuncture, A Chinese System Of Health Care And Healing Based On The Use Of Pulse Diagnosis, Acupuncture Point Selection, And Needle Insertion, As Well As Herbs And Other Asian Treatment Modalities. Includes Instruction In Basic Western Medical Sciences, Asian Philosophy, Chinese Medical Anatomy And Physiology, Chinese Herbs, Diagnostic Techniques, Patient Observation And Communication, Acupuncture Points And Point Selection, Acupuncture Techniques, Acupuncture Treatment Of Disease, Pain Management, Practice Management, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Examples: [Acupuncture], [Acupuncture And Oriental Medicine], [Oriental Medicine].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, acupuncture and oriental medicine is a popular field of study, with 1,453 degrees awarded annually. 45 colleges award acupuncture and oriental medicine degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 255.
By level, the 1,453 awards include 1 certificates, 28 bachelor’s degrees, 834 master’s degrees and 590 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of acupuncture and oriental medicine degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,149 of 1,453). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (609) and Asian (430), and international students earned 72.
College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Schools ranking, including 12 for master’s degrees and 8 for doctorates. It also ranks acupuncture and oriental medicine schools within 7 states. In all, 45 colleges offer acupuncture and oriental medicine programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common acupuncture and oriental medicine credential is the master’s degree: 834 of the 1,453 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to acupuncture and oriental medicine call most for Active Listening, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Deductive Reasoning and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an acupuncture and oriental medicine degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 834 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 590 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to acupuncture and oriental medicine, at 33.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.3% |
| Master’s degree | 27.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 25.5% |
| First professional degree | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, with an average median salary of $128,783; the strongest outlook belongs to Naturopathic Physicians, at 6.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Herbalist, Acupressurist, Acupuncturist and Naturopath.
The occupation related to acupuncture and oriental medicine with the most projected jobs is Acupuncturists, at 3,505,781.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncturists | 3,505,781 | 5.2% |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 3,105,142 | 1.0% |
| Orthoptists | 2,932,094 | 4.8% |
| Naturopathic Physicians | 2,656,215 | 6.6% |
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine graduates earn a median $31,215 one year after completing their program, $38,117 after four years and $36,319 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,215 |
| 4 years | $38,117 |
| 5 years | $36,319 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to acupuncture and oriental medicine is Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other, with a median salary of $138,809.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $138,809 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | $138,086 |
| Orthoptists | $135,811 |
| Acupuncturists | $102,425 |
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has 6 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,529 degrees a year; the largest are Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems (422), Holistic/Integrative Health (403) and Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, Other (242). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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