Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Tuition and Scholarships

Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee

$86,078* tuition to complete the program.

SCU’s distinctive Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee for degree programs provides students with confidence in planning for their educational investment.

Fixed Tuition Guarantee Benefits:

• Your per-credit rate is guaranteed for the scheduled duration of your program*
• No tuition price uncertainty
• Plan your finances in advance

If you would like to learn more about fixed rate tuition, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at FinancialAid@scuhs.edu. 

You can also visit the Office of Financial Aid website to learn more about available scholarships, loans, and more.

* Tuition rate reflected above represents the fixed rate for a student entering during the 2025-2026 academic year. Tuition rates are subject to change and may not be reflected on this website or other SCU materials. Please contact us for the most updated information.

** Some limitations apply. View the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee page for more information.

DAcCHM Merit Scholarship

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) Merit Scholarship is available to incoming students who have demonstrated academic achievement. Students with a GPA of 3.25 or higher receive an award of $5,000. The scholarship is awarded over 10 terms^1,2. Students must be continuously enrolled and in good standing. A scholarship application is not required. SCU will determine eligibility based on the information provided in your application.

DAcCHM Out-of-State Scholarship

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) Out-of-State Scholarship is for incoming Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine students who reside outside of California. The scholarship is $8,000 and will be awarded over 10 terms^1,2. To be eligible for consideration, students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must be continuously enrolled and in good standing. A scholarship application is not required. SCU will determine eligibility based on the information provided in your application.

Relocation Housing Scholarship

The Relocation Housing Scholarship is for incoming Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) students who reside outside of California or beyond a reasonable distance to commute to campus³.  The scholarship provides $5,000 towards housing and will be awarded over 2 terms.  This scholarship applies only to new students starting with their first term in the DAcCHM program. Contact your Admissions Advisor to qualify.

¹ Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) students who are enrolled continuously in the Eastern Medicine concentration and are accepted into the DAcCHM program and meet the standards for the merit scholarship would be eligible to earn a prorated amount over one less term of the designated scholarship duration for their new program of study.  BSHS students must complete their bachelor’s degree with SCU to be eligible for the merit scholarships.

² Students who qualify for the DAcCHM Merit Scholarship and the DAcCHM Out-of-State Scholarship will be awarded the scholarship with the highest value. Students who receive the Kwan scholarship are not eligible for the Merit Scholarship or the Out-of-State Scholarship but are eligible for the Relocation Housing Scholarship.

³ Students relocating within the state of California may qualify. Please contact your Admissions Advisor for details.

Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Example of Daytime, 10 Terms, 193 credits

Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Example of Evening, 12 Terms, 193 credits

Per term tuition amounts listed above were calculated using the current curriculum plan for credit hours in the term shown times the rate per credit hour and assumes that the student stays on cohort and follows the normal academic progression.

* Tuition is charged at $446 per credit hour. Tuition is billed by credit hour and rates reflected above represent the fixed rate for a student entering during the 2025/2026 academic year. Tuition rates are subject to change and may not be reflected on the website or other SCU materials. Please contact us for the most updated information. Restrictions on our fixed rate tuition guarantee apply. To remain eligible for the fixed rate guarantee, students must graduate either on time or within one additional term of the published program length they are enrolled in. Refer to the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee section of the academic catalog for more information. Actual tuition per term will vary depending upon the number of credit hours enrolled.

** Program fees listed are for the 2025/2026 academic year and are subject to change. Program fees include charges for technology, malpractice insurance, student health, professional affiliation, and ASB, and are charged every term that the student is enrolled.

*** Books, supplies, and other equipment not included in this tuition and fee schedule may be required for this program.

Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Flexible Schedule

Tuition is charged at $446 per credit hour. To remain eligible for the fixed rate guarantee, students must graduate within 13 terms. Refer to the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee section of the academic catalog for more information. Actual tuition per term will vary depending upon the number of credits enrolled.

Program fees for the 2025/2026 academic year are subject to change. Program fees are $1,100 in the first term for a medical bag, $263 in the first term for EXXAT, $225 in the last term for a petition to graduate, and $405 per term for program fees. Fees include charges for technology, malpractice insurance, student health, professional affiliation, and ASB, and are charged every term that the student is enrolled. Books, supplies, and other equipment not included in this tuition and fee schedule may be required for this program.

Total Cost of Attendance & Value of the DAcCHM Degree

Understanding the full cost of your Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine education is an important part of your enrollment decision. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) establishes a new federal financial-aid framework scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, with anticipated implications for how SCU graduate students fund their education starting in the 2026–2027 academic year.¹.

Under OBBBA, students may use a combination of federal unsubsidized loans, private education loans, scholarships, and personal resources to cover their total cost of attendance (COA).

The estimates below reflect a typical California-based student and are provided for planning purposes only. Actual costs vary based on individual living arrangements, transportation choices, and personal spending decisions. To determine your personalized cost of attendance, please contact SCU’s Financial Aid Office at financialaid@scuhs.edu.

Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance (COA)

SCU’s Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program runs 3 terms per academic year, and the estimated annual cost of attendance includes both direct costs (paid to SCU) and indirect costs associated with living and studying in California.² These figures are estimates for planning purposes only, additional fees may be required and may change annually.  Visit mySCU for additional details.

Financing Your Education Under OBBBA (Effective July 1, 2026)

Beginning in 2026, OBBBA introduces a new financial aid structure for graduate students. As an SCU DC student, your financing plan may include the following:

• Federal Unsubsidized Loan: Anticipated caps of up to $10,250 per term (3 terms per academic year) or $30,750 a year, subject to applicable federal annual⁵/lifetime limits in effect for the award year. Interest accrues from the time of disbursement, and these loans often serve as the foundation of a student’s borrowing plan.
• Private Education Loans: Offered through participating lenders; terms vary. Some lenders may subsidize interest while you are enrolled, and terms are credit-based and vary by private lender. SCU provides students with access to private lenders through the FastChoice website⁶.
• Scholarships: SCU offers merit and need-based awards that reduce total borrowing. Visit Scholarships for details.
• Remaining Costs: Typically covered through scholarships, private loans, or personal resources.

SCU’s Financial Aid team is available to help you evaluate options and build a personalized financing approach.

Evaluating the Return on Investment

A Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine degree offers professional and financial value, particularly in California’s health-care environment. Individual outcomes vary widely based on geographic location, practice setting, hours worked, and business ownership.

• Acupuncturist earnings: Range from $78,220 median to $140,660⁷ at the 90% percentile annually.
• Repayment considerations: Loan-repayment timelines depend on total borrowing, income, and repayment plan selection.
• Long-term outlook: Over a multi-decade career, chiropractors may generate substantial lifetime earnings, depending on market conditions and professional trajectory.

Your results will differ. SCU’s Financial Aid team can help you model scenarios based on your anticipated borrowing and career goals.

¹ The information provided reflects current understanding of the federal financial aid changes under OBBBA as of 2/10/26 and is not intended to be legal advice. Many aspects of implementation, including transition rules, eligibility criteria, and timelines, are still subject to rulemaking and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. Policies, processes, and guidance may change as new details emerge, and SCU will update this page. Please also consult federal resources at studentaid.gov for additional information or contact the SCU Financial Aid Team directly at financialaid@scuhs.edu.
² COA is a budgeting and financial aid eligibility figure. Your actual bill from SCU typically only includes direct costs.
³ Typical fees on an annual basis
⁴ Loan fees vary based on federal rates and borrowing amounts in a given academic year.
⁵ SCU’s DAcCHM program runs 3 terms per academic year; the “annual” COA reflects three terms.
⁶ SCU does not endorse any specific lender; terms vary by borrower’s creditworthiness.
⁷ Source: BLS Acupuncturists