by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 18 U.S. colleges awarded 3,022 degrees and certificates in Chiropractic. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Chiropractic Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $49,003 one year after completing, rising to $60,524 after four years.
A degree in Chiropractic involves the study of Chiropractic.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, chiropractic is a popular field of study, with 3,022 degrees awarded annually. 18 colleges award chiropractic degrees, an average of 168 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 626.
All 3,022 of the awards are doctorates, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 48% of chiropractic degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,465 of 3,022). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,715) and Hispanic or Latino (404), and international students earned 160.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Chiropractic Schools ranking, including 15 for doctorates. It also ranks chiropractic schools within 8 states. In all, 18 colleges offer chiropractic programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Chiropractic Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to chiropractic, at 4.0 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Medicine and Dentistry, English Language and Biology. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a chiropractic degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3,022 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to chiropractic, at 59.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 59.7% |
| Master’s degree | 14.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.9% |
| First professional degree | 4.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Chiropractic, with an average median salary of $82,312; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Chiropractic Physician, Chiropractor, Chiropractic Neurologist and Chiropractic Doctor (DC).
The occupation related to chiropractic with the most projected jobs is Chiropractors, at 1,824,902.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractors | 1,824,902 | -2.5% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Chiropractic graduates earn a median $49,003 one year after completing their program, $60,524 after four years and $60,290 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,003 |
| 4 years | $60,524 |
| 5 years | $60,290 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to chiropractic, with a median salary of $117,961.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chiropractors | $117,961 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Chiropractic includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Chiropractic (3,022). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,034,438 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chiropractic | 3,022 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
