by our College Data Analytics TeamAcupuncture and Oriental Medicine was the 287th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 1,930 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 9.7% increase in acupuncture and oriental medicine degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,742.
Our 2023 Best Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Schools ranking analyzes 24 of these 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.
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine majors are found most commonly in careers in which using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems is important. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and actively looking for ways to help people are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic acupuncture and oriental medicine program qualifications, to serve in some acupuncture and oriental medicine careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree levels vary. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest acupuncture and oriental medicine degree you can get. The type of acupuncture and oriental medicine degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to acupuncture and oriental medicine, with approximately 48.0% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for acupuncture and oriental medicine workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 49.3% |
| First Professional Degree | 14.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 13.0% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 11.4% |
| Some College Courses | 9.8% |
Most workers in acupuncture and oriental medicine have at least a master's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in acupuncture and oriental medicine have received.
The education level required is different depending on the acupuncture and oriental medicine career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your acupuncture and oriental medicine degree? Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine careers are expected to grow 13.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to acupuncture and oriental medicine.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | 63,900 | 13.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for acupuncture and oriental medicine graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for acupuncture and oriental medicine graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers acupuncture and oriental medicine grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | $85,600 |
With over 82 different acupuncture and oriental medicine degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased acupuncture and oriental medicine school rankings to help you with this.
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is one of 6 different types of Alternative Medicine & Systems programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Holistic/Integrative Health | 521 |
| General Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | 410 |
| Naturopathic Medicine/Naturopathy | 329 |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herbology | 152 |
| Ayurvedic Medicine/Ayurveda | 138 |
Image Credit: By Aphiwat chuangchoem under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
