Five Branches University
Five Branches University is a private, ACAHM-accredited TCM institution founded in 1984, operating two California campuses and offering graduate and postgraduate acupuncture and herbal medicine degrees to approximately 453 students, with on-campus health centers delivering clinical training.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSanta Cruz Cabrália, Brazil
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Five Branches University does
Five Branches University is a private, independently held educational institution founded in 1984 in Santa Cruz, California, specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) graduate and postgraduate education. It operates two California campuses (Santa Cruz and San Jose) and offers five core programs: the Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM, $69,437 tuition, four years), Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM, $62,927, 3-4 years), Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc), Master of Acupuncture (MAc), the postgraduate Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM, $25,000, two years), and a one-year online asynchronous Bridge Completion Program ($8,505). The university enrolled 453 students as of the 2023 Consumer Information report, with 70.86% women and 12.36% international students, and delivers instruction bilingually in English and Chinese.
The institution is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) and approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, with Title IV federal student aid eligibility and licensure pathways in 43+ U.S. states. Its core methodology integrates TCM (acupuncture, herbology, Tuina massage, energetics, Chinese dietary medicine) with Western biomedicine and is supported by two on-campus Health Centers featuring 38 treatment rooms each and herbal pharmacies stocking 400+ products, collectively treating more than 180 patients daily to provide clinical training. International study-abroad partnerships with affiliated hospitals in China, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, plus a long-standing collaboration with Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, support cross-border clinical training and recruitment. Distribution channels include in-person instruction at both campuses, fully online (Bridge) and hybrid (DAOM) formats, on-demand CEU courses, and clinical services to the community. Revenue is generated through tuition (the primary stream), clinic patient services, and continuing education, with financial aid available to over 80% of degree-program students; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Five Branches University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Five Branches University
- Legal name
- Five Branches University
- Website
- https://fivebranches.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Five Branches University is a private, ACAHM-accredited TCM institution founded in 1984, operating two California campuses and offering graduate and postgraduate acupuncture and herbal medicine degrees to approximately 453 students, with on-campus health centers delivering clinical training.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Five Branches University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Cruz Cabrália
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Five Branches University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Graduate Degree Tuition: Revenue from tuition for DAcHM, MAcHM, DAc, MAc programs offered at both campuses. MAcHM tuition is $62,927 and DAcHM/DAc tuition is $69,437.
- Postgraduate DAOM Tuition: Revenue from two-year postgraduate Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program. Tuition is $25,000.
- Bridge Completion Program Tuition: Revenue from one-year online asynchronous bridge program for licensed acupuncturists. Tuition is $8,505.
- Clinic Patient Services: Revenue from Five Branches Health Centers treating over 180 patients per day, providing clinical training and healthcare services to the community
- Continuing Education (CEU) Courses: Revenue from doctoral-level CEU courses offered both on-campus and on-demand online for licensed practitioners
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MAcHM - Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DAcHM - Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine |
| Subscription | Annual | Bridge Completion Program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DAOM - Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DAc/MAc - Acupuncture Only Programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Five Branches University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Five Branches University is a private graduate institution that delivers accredited degree and certificate programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including the Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM), Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MACM), Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM), and Asian Body Therapy and Tui Na certificates. It pairs classroom instruction with required clinical training at two university-operated health centers in California, and it licenses its proprietary Five Branches TCM Framework as the integrating curriculum.
Product overview
Five Branches University is an educational institution offering Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) graduate and postgraduate degree programs through a multi-campus structure. The portfolio consists of entry-level professional doctoral and master's degrees (DAcHM, MAcHM, DAc, MAc) for students seeking to become TCM practitioners, a one-year Bridge Completion Program for licensed acupuncturists upgrading their credentials, and a two-year Postgraduate DAOM for advanced practitioner training. All programs are offered in English and/or Chinese at the Santa Cruz and San Jose California campuses. The institution also operates on-site Health Centers providing clinical training and community healthcare services, and offers Continuing Education Units for professional development. The programs are programmatically accredited by ACAHM and approved by California state authorities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM) Master-level graduate degree covering acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and TCM theory, intended for prospective licensed TCM practitioners.
- Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MACM) Master-level graduate degree focused on acupuncture and Chinese medicine, preparing students for California acupuncture licensure.
- Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) Post-master's doctoral degree advancing clinical specialization in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for licensed practitioners.
- Asian Body Therapy / Tui Na Certificate Programs Non-degree certificates in Asian Body Therapy and Tui Na massage for students and practicing massage therapists.
- University Health Center Clinical Services Low-cost TCM and acupuncture clinical services delivered to the public via university teaching clinics in Santa Cruz and San Jose.
- Continuing Education Courses for Licensed Practitioners CEU coursework in TCM, acupuncture, and integrative medicine for licensed acupuncturists and other healthcare practitioners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% passing rate on licensing exams for first graduating classes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Five Branches University
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Five Branches University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Five Branches University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- World Federation of Chinese Medicine SocietiesmajorCo-hosted the 10th World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies Conference in Santa Clara, California with 800 participants from around the world.
- Dr. Shi XuemincorePartnership with Dr. Shi Xuemin to inaugurate Stroke and Rehabilitation Center at both Santa Cruz and San Jose campuses.
- Dr. Gan Ma (Zhejiang Chinese Medical University)majorCreated specialized Diabetes Center at Five Branches campuses in partnership with Dr. Gan Ma.
- Dr. Shunfa JiaomajorEstablished Head Acupuncture Institute with Dr. Shunfa Jiao, the developer of Head Acupuncture in China.
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitycoreInternational partnership for joint Doctoral/Ph.D. program development. Co-hosted first International Integrated Medicine Conference in 2004 in Hangzhou, China. Continued collaboration on TCM education and research initiatives.
- Stanford University Medical ProfessionalsmajorPartnership with Director of Center for Education in Family and Community Medicine at Stanford University to organize seminars on modern hospital administration, presented to hospital administrators in China.
- Alta Bates Summit Medical CentercoreHospital providing residency opportunities for Five Branches students in Oakland, California for integrative medicine training.
- Affiliated Hospitals and Outpatient Centers (China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam)majorInternational clinical training partnerships providing specialized TCM and integrative medicine training for Study Abroad program participants.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Five Branches University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts: North Carolina-based ACAHM-accredited TCM college offering master's and doctoral programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Comparable in program mix and professional licensure focus, serving a smaller regional market.
- New England School of Acupuncture at MCPHS University: Acupuncture program now housed within Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, offering master's and doctoral acupuncture degrees. Comparable in TCM-specific curriculum and licensure pathway, with the additional backing of a larger health sciences institution.
Direct peers
- Bastyr University: Accredited natural health sciences university offering graduate programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, naturopathic medicine, and nutrition. Directly comparable in mission, tuition tier, and accredited graduate-level integrative medicine offerings.
- National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM): Portland-based accredited university offering graduate programs in naturopathic medicine, classical Chinese medicine, and integrative medicine research. Comparable in graduate-level integrative health education and clinical training model.
- Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine: California-based ACAHM-accredited TCM college offering master's and doctoral degrees in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Headquartered in Santa Monica, it directly competes with Five Branches for California-based TCM students and clinical training capacity.
- Pacific College of Health and Sciences: One of the largest U.S. TCM and integrative health colleges, offering acupuncture, herbal medicine, and holistic health degrees across multiple campuses (San Diego, New York, Chicago). Direct competitor in TCM graduate education with overlapping program structure and licensure pathway.
- Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH): Maryland-based accredited university offering master's and doctoral programs in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and integrative health, with a strong online/hybrid delivery model. Closely comparable in online program structure (analogous to the Bridge Program) and professional licensure positioning.
- Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Los Angeles-based ACAHM-accredited TCM college offering MSTOM and DAOM programs. Direct competitor in the Southern California TCM education market with similar program structure and tuition pricing.
- American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (at CIIS): ACAHM-accredited TCM school now housed within the California Institute of Integral Studies, offering MSTOM and DAOM programs in San Francisco. Direct peer in the Bay Area competing for the same prospective TCM student demographic.
- AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine: Texas-based ACAHM-accredited institution offering master's and doctoral degrees in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Comparable in program mix, accreditation footprint, and tuition tier, serving a regional Southwest market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Five Branches University social profiles
Digital presenceFive Branches University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Five Branches University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Five Branches University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Five Branches University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Five Branches University
What does Five Branches University do?
Five Branches University is a private graduate institution that delivers accredited degree and certificate programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including the Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM), Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MACM), Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM), and Asian Body Therapy and Tui Na certificates. It pairs classroom instruction with required clinical training at two university-operated health centers in California, and it licenses its proprietary Five Branches TCM Framework as the integrating curriculum.
Is Five Branches University a public or private company?
Five Branches University is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Five Branches University founded?
Five Branches University was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Five Branches University based?
Five Branches University is headquartered in Santa Cruz Cabrália, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Five Branches University make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Graduate Degree Tuition is the primary driver. The others are postgraduate DAOM Tuition, bridge Completion Program Tuition, clinic Patient Services and continuing Education (CEU) Courses.
Who are Five Branches University's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts and New England School of Acupuncture at MCPHS University. Direct peers are Bastyr University, National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Pacific College of Health and Sciences, Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (at CIIS) and AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine.
Does Five Branches University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Five Branches University.