Doctor of Chiropractic

Tuition and Scholarships

SCU Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee

$139,680* tuition to complete the program.

SCU’s Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee for degree programs allows you to plan your educational investment.
Benefits of our Fixed Tuition Guarantee:

• Guarantees your per-term rate for the scheduled duration of your program**
• Eliminates tuition price uncertainty
• Allows you to 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.

LACC Dean’s Merit Scholarship

The LACC Dean’s Merit Scholarship is available to incoming Doctor of Chiropractic students who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship is $20,000 and will be awarded over 10 terms¹. To be eligible for consideration, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 or higher based on the admissions requirements to enter SCU’s Track 1 or 2. Students must be continuously enrolled and in good standing. This scholarship is not available to Canadian students (see the Canadian Scholarship). The Out-of-State Scholarship cannot be combined with the Dean’s Merit Scholarship.

LACC Out-of-State Scholarship

The LACC Out-of-State Scholarship is for incoming Doctor of Chiropractic students who reside outside of California. The scholarship is $15,000 and will be awarded over 10 terms¹. To be eligible for consideration, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher based on the admissions requirements to enter SCU’s Track 1 or 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. Additional documentation may be required. Track 3 and Canadian Students (see the Canadian Scholarship) are not eligible for this scholarship. The Out-of-State Scholarship cannot be combined with the Dean’s Merit Scholarship.

Relocation Housing Scholarship

The Relocation Housing Scholarship is for incoming Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) students who reside outside of California or beyond a reasonable distance to commute to campus².  The scholarship provides $5,000 towards housing and will be awarded over 2 terms.  This scholarship applies only to new students starting their first term in the DC program.  Contact your Admissions Advisor to learn more.

Canadian Scholarship

SCU’s Canadian Scholarship is for F-1 Visa Canadian students who are enrolled in the Doctor of Chiropractic program and provides a 20% discount on tuition. This scholarship is automatically provided to those who qualify with no application required and is subject to modification based on quarterly reviews.  Canadian Scholarship students are not able to combine this scholarship with the Deans Merit or Out-of-State Scholarships.  Students are eligible for the Relocation Scholarship.

¹ Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) students who are enrolled continuously in the Chiropractic Sciences concentration and are accepted into the DC 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 relocating within the state of California may qualify. Please contact your Admissions Advisor for details.

Doctor of Chiropractic 10 Terms, 215.5 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.

*DC students can also expect to pay $72 per student/preceptor relationship to the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners between terms 3 and 10. DC students enrolled in less than 12 credit hours will be charged on a per credit hour basis of $1,164 per credit. DC students enrolled in more than 28.5 credit hours will be charged full-time rate plus the per credit hour rate of $1,164 for every credit hour over 28.5 units. 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 the tuition and fee schedule may be required for this program.

Total Cost of Attendance & Value of the DC Degree

Understanding the full cost of your Doctor of Chiropractic 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 Chiropractic 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 $25,000 per term (3 terms per academic year) or $75,000 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 Chiropractic 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.

• California chiropractor earnings: Approximately $149,000–$259,000 annually, based on chiropractor pay in the Los Angeles area⁷.
• 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 DC 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: Glassdoor.