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CIP 51.3301 Health Professions

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

Total graduates

1,451

2025 · 44 schools

International share

5.0%

72 international students

Bachelor's degrees

28

14.3% international

Master's degrees

790

4.9% international

Overview

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is a specialized field that integrates traditional healing practices from East Asian cultures, primarily focusing on acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other holistic therapies. This discipline emphasizes the balance of energy, or "Qi," within the body and aims to restore health by addressing both physical and emotional well-being.

Students in this program typically study the principles of acupuncture, including the identification and manipulation of acupuncture points along meridians, which are believed to be pathways for Qi flow. In addition to acupuncture, the curriculum often includes training in herbal medicine, nutrition, and various therapeutic techniques such as cupping, moxibustion, and Qi Gong.

The program usually requires a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology to effectively diagnose and treat various health conditions. Practitioners are trained to address a wide range of ailments, including chronic pain, digestive issues, stress, and more, often working in conjunction with conventional medical practices.

Graduates of this field may pursue careers as licensed acupuncturists, herbalists, or holistic health practitioners. They often work in private practice, wellness centers, or integrative health clinics. With the growing interest in alternative and complementary medicine, the demand for trained professionals in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has been on the rise, providing opportunities for practitioners to make a significant impact on patients’ health and well-being.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2003 to 2025, graduates grew 86% and the international share went from 8.1% to 5.0%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
41.9%
Asian
29.6%
Hispanic
6.8%
Black
3.2%
Other
13.4%
Intl.
5.0%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 44 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#376 University of Bridgeport Connecticut 14 0
— Pacific College of Health and Science California 255 22
— Five Branches University California 100 5
— Virginia University of Integrative Medicine Virginia 89 0
— Pacific College of Health and Science New York 83 9
— Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Massachusetts 69 3
— Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley California 60 1
— Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine Florida 60 8
— Won Institute of Graduate Studies Pennsylvania 56 1
— Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts North Carolina 44 0
— South Baylo University California 41 6
— Southern California University of Health Sciences California 34 1
— New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine New York 33 4
— Alhambra Medical University California 33 1
— New York College of Health Professions New York 32 0
— Northwestern Health Sciences University Minnesota 29 0
— Pacific College of Health and Science Illinois 27 2
— American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med Texas 26 1
— Institute of Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Hawaii 26 0
— Dongguk University Los Angeles California 25 5
— Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine California 25 0
— Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture Arizona 24 0
— National University of Natural Medicine Oregon 22 0
— Florida College of Integrative Medicine Florida 21 0
— Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine North Carolina 21 0
— Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine New Jersey 20 0
— University of East-West Medicine California 20 0
— Notre Dame of Maryland University Maryland 18 0
— Texas Health and Science University Texas 18 3
— Bastyr University Washington 17 0
— Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine Washington 17 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other 28,630 $61.38 $127,660
Acupuncturists 7,830 $41.84 $87,020

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2003–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.