The Best Acupuncture Schools
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Find Schools to Study Acupuncture
Acupuncture relieves pain, promotes healing and addresses a wide range of health problems for millions of people all over the world. Acupuncture, an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is based on the idea of returning the body to a state of harmony or ideal functioning. Acupuncture rebalances the flow of energy (Qi) in the body. Acupuncture influences human energy through manipulating the meridians of the body, connected energetically with internal organs and systems.
The World Health Organization’s official report titled Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials, specifically listed 28 diseases, symptoms or conditions which acupuncture (through clinical trials) has proved to provide effective treatment. The US National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement proposing acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention for complimentary medicine. The American Medical Association Journal of Internal Medicine concluded acupuncture effectively reduces chronic pain with few side effects.
Featured Online Schools
Because of acupuncture’s increasing popularity, the number of acupuncture schools has grown over the years. The schools, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine schools or Traditional Oriental Medicine schools, typically teach the fundamentals and related Western medical subjects.
With numerous institutions offering acupuncture programs, it’s not easy selecting a school. Prospective students may begin their search with schools which received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as well as the American Association of Oriental Medicine established ACAOM in 1982 as a not-for-profit organization. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes ACAOM as a “specialized and professional” accrediting agency.
ACAOM has more than 50 schools and colleges with accreditation or candidacy status. All of the schools we selected for our list have received accreditation from ACAOM.
Factors which influenced our choice of schools making this list as well as their relative order include the following:
- Quality of faculty, not only as practitioners of acupuncture but also as researchers advancing the field
- Comprehensiveness of the training program, including hands-on training
- Internships
- Success in training students who can lead the field
- How long the school has been in existence and its reputation for excellence during that time
- Doctoral program in acupuncture, not required but a plus for a school
The Best Acupuncture Schools in the United States
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Portland, OR- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$25,000
- Out-of-state$25,000
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled229
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine
- Santa Monica, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$16,893
- Out-of-state$16,893
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled237
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine
- Austin, TX
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$17,043
- Out-of-state$17,043
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled140
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Bastyr University
- Kenmore, WA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$26,820
- Out-of-state$26,820
- In-State$30,900
- Out-of-state$30,900
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled994
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Five Branches University
- Santa Cruz, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$17,783
- Out-of-state$17,783
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled353
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment3%
- AccreditationYes
Maryland University of Integrative Health
- Laurel, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$21,105
- Out-of-state$21,105
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled891
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Northwestern Health Sciences University
- Bloomington, MN
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$10,932
- Out-of-state$10,932
- In-State$12,168
- Out-of-state$12,168
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,052
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,571
- Out-of-state$9,571
- In-State$12,243
- Out-of-state$12,243
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,036
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
- Houston, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$15,552
- Out-of-state$15,552
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled104
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$17,000
- Out-of-state$17,000
- In-State$17,000
- Out-of-state$17,000
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled136
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine-New York
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$10,309
- Out-of-state$10,309
- In-State$16,105
- Out-of-state$16,105
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled658
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment18%
- AccreditationYes
Texas Health and Science University
- Austin, TX
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$16,634
- Out-of-state$16,634
- In-State$14,475
- Out-of-state$14,475
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled89
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- Roseville, MN
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$14,787
- Out-of-state$14,787
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled85
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Mineola, NY
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$15,525
- Out-of-state$15,525
- In-State$18,393
- Out-of-state$18,393
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled195
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine
- Seattle, WA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$24,000
- Out-of-state$24,000
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled34
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
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