Home
Majors
Health
Chiropractic

HEALTH Specialization

Chiropractic

Chiropractic graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $107,310/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

Explore Program

About Chiropractic

This page covers Chiropractic as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Chiropractic is a focused area of study within Health. You will not have trouble finding it: 18 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,698 students complete it each year, most walking away with a certificate. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.

Colleges Offering: 18
Graduates / Year: 2,698
Avg Net Price / yr: $24,719

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 2,698 students who complete Chiropractic programs each year, the majority (98%) earn a certificate degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

98%

Certificate 98%

Doctorate 2%

What Can You Do With a Chiropractic Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Chiropractic graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Health Specialties Teachers pay the most at $107,310/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Health Specialties Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +17.9% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Health Specialties Teachers

$107,310

$76K $210K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 24,900 openings/yr 221K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Instructing Speaking Critical Thinking Active Learning

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.

↗ +8.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Chiropractor

$79,200

$60K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 2,600 openings/yr 40K employed nationally

Active Listening Reading Comprehension Speaking Critical Thinking Social Perceptiveness

Day-to-day responsibilities

Assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.

Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients and interpreting x-rays.
Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.

Top Colleges for Chiropractic

Only 7 colleges had enough verified data to appear here for Chiropractic. They are sorted by graduate volume, not selectivity, so use them as a starting point rather than a ranking.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Life University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Life University Marietta, GA · Nonprofit	423	93%	$29,791	$47,397
2	Logan University Chesterfield, MO · Nonprofit	227	64.3%	$20,218	$55,838
3	Cleveland University-Kansas City Overland Park, KS · Nonprofit	110	69.2%	$35,764	$52,304
4	Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL · Nonprofit	48	97%	$30,498	$39,696
5	University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT · Nonprofit	33	83%	$27,807	$50,323
6	D'Youville University Buffalo, NY · Nonprofit	25	81.4%	$20,433	$66,942
7	Universidad Central Del Caribe Bayamon, PR · Nonprofit	17	60%	$8,524	$31,468

Ranked by Chiropractic graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Chiropractic program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Chiropractic degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Chiropractic Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Chiropractic shows 2 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Fast-growing field Related careers are projected to grow up to +17.9% over the next decade, with Health Specialties Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 27,500 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Limited program availability Only 18 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.

Chiropractic Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a Chiropractic degree?

Health Specialties Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $107,310 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Chiropractic program take?

One to two years of full-time study for most Chiropractic certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.

How many colleges offer Chiropractic?

18 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

What is the difference between Chiropractic and Health?

Chiropractic is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Chiropractic-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Chiropractic graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Chiropractic graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

Is graduate school worth it for Chiropractic graduates?

Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.

What is the job outlook for Chiropractic graduates?

Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +13.3% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Health Specialties Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +17.9%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.