by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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]. Read on to learn the key facts every acupuncture and oriental medicine major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering acupuncture and oriental medicine programs.
Across the country, acupuncture and oriental medicine is a popular field of study, with 1,485 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Schools ranking analyzes these 45 schools to determine the best overall colleges for acupuncture and oriental medicine students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of acupuncture and oriental medicine programs later in this article.
Programs in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations acupuncture and oriental medicine graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a acupuncture and oriental medicine program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a acupuncture and oriental medicine major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several acupuncture and oriental medicine degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 930 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 554 |
People currently working in careers related to acupuncture and oriental medicine tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in acupuncture and oriental medicine careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying acupuncture and oriental medicine prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to acupuncture and oriental medicine.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to acupuncture and oriental medicine.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of acupuncture and oriental medicine graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,185 |
| 4 years | $30,904 |
| 5 years | $35,897 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for acupuncture and oriental medicine graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers acupuncture and oriental medicine grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $138,809 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | $138,086 |
| Orthoptists | $135,811 |
| Acupuncturists | $102,425 |
With 45 different acupuncture and oriental medicine programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased acupuncture and oriental medicine school rankings to help you.
Students interested in acupuncture and oriental medicine, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
