Life Chiropractic College West

What Life Chiropractic College West does

Life Chiropractic College West (Life West) is a private, nonprofit educational institution founded in 1976 and headquartered in Hayward, California. The college's core product is the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, delivered through a clinically-inspired curriculum that places students in patient-facing clinical settings earlier than peer programs and culminates in a year-long off-campus preceptorship under mentor DCs. The institution operates two campuses — the California Bay Area campus (Hayward) and a Nebraska campus opened in Bellevue in Fall 2023 — serving roughly 600 enrolled students with an 11:1 student-to-staff ratio. Life West differentiates on a vitalistic/vertebral subluxation philosophical stance and on specialty capabilities including CBCT diagnostic imaging (MSDI program), functional neurology (Nexus Brain Center, DACNB track), and a Human Performance Research Lab equipped with HRV and EEG biomarker instrumentation.

The revenue model combines several streams. Primary income is recurring tuition charged on a flat quarterly cadence (with an accelerated 12-quarter option and a standard 12-14 quarter track). Secondary streams include patient care at campus Health Centers (supervised student interns), The WAVE annual chiropractic conference in Hayward (registration $284-$599, offering up to 24 CE hours), an online continuing-education subscription approved in 25+ states, alumni donations and scholarships, and sponsorships from chiropractic vendors (Standard Process, Clearlight, ChiroSecure, ChiroJobs, Activator Methods). Student recruitment runs through three go-to-market motions: event-driven Discovery Weekends/Days, Discovery Nights at local DC offices, and Discovery Digital webinars, supplemented by an alumni ambassador referral engine and paid Google/social remarketing.

The institution is governed by a Board of Regents under recently transitioned President Dr. Peter Kevorkian (the 4th president, succeeding Dr. Ron Oberstein), and is currently investing in a planned relocation to a new state-of-the-art California facility in 2027. Distribution beyond the core DC program extends through the Sports Performance Institute (Dew Tour, AVPFirst), international service trips to India, Tonga, Mexico, and Panama, and a Yellow Ribbon School designation supporting veteran enrollment via VA benefits.

Name

Life Chiropractic College West

Legal name

Life Chiropractic College West

Website

https://lifewest.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Life Chiropractic College West is a private, nonprofit chiropractic college founded in 1976, operating two campuses in California and Nebraska, and offering a Doctor of Chiropractic degree plus continuing education, clinics, and an annual chiropractic conference to ~600 enrolled students and the broader chiropractic profession.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chiropractic Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Offices of Chiropractors (621310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Chiropractic Care (HSADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chiropractic Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Exercise (HSADALAG), Pediatric & Family Chiropractic (HSADALAC), Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices) (EDAAAHAH)

Keywords

• Chiropractic education
• Doctor of chiropractic
• Continuing education
• Chiropractic health centers
• Diagnostic imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayward

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Doctoral Degree Tuition: Flat quarterly tuition rate for DC program allowing students to explore techniques and specialties through elective courses without additional debt. Students can complete in 12 quarters (accelerated) or 12-14 quarters standard.
2. Continuing Education and The WAVE Conference: Annual chiropractic conference offering up to 24 CE hours (12 in-person, 12 online). Standard registration $345, group rates $324, general admission $284.
3. Health Center Services: Patient care clinics providing chiropractic services to community with student intern supervision. Includes X-ray and digital imaging center.
4. Alumni Services and Donations: Alumni engagement programs, launch grants, career services, and donation/scholarship funding opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Life Chiropractic College West is a private, nonprofit higher-education institution that trains future Doctors of Chiropractic through a clinically-inspired, hands-on DC degree program delivered at two campuses (Hayward, CA and Bellevue, NE). Beyond the degree, it operates campus Health Centers and the Nexus Brain Center that deliver chiropractic and functional neurology care to the community under faculty supervision, and it runs a continuing-education ecosystem anchored by The WAVE annual conference and online CE courses for licensed practitioners.

Product overview

Life Chiropractic College West is an educational institution offering a Doctor of Chiropractic degree program as its core product, with a clinically-inspired learning curriculum that integrates classroom academics with hands-on clinical experience from early in the program. The institution operates two campuses (California and Nebraska) and provides a portfolio of educational and healthcare services including the Health Center and Nexus Brain Center for patient care, the WAVE annual chiropractic conference and continuing education programs, Discovery Events for prospective students, research programs including a Human Performance Research Lab, podcasts (Leadership Line and Life by Life West), international service trips, a Preceptorship Program, and an MSDI diagnostic imaging program. The institution emphasizes its founding principles of Give, Do, Love & Serve through global service initiatives and maintains WSCUC accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The WAVE: Annual chiropractic conference held in August at the Hayward campus, offering up to 24 CE hours (12 in-person/12 online). The 2026 event is noted as the last at the historic Hayward campus before moving to a new facility in 2027.
• Nexus Brain Center
• Human Performance Research Lab

Products and services

• Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Degree Program A post-graduate four-year Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree program with a clinically-inspired curriculum that integrates classroom academics with hands-on clinical experience starting earlier than peer programs; offered on-campus at Hayward, CA and Bellevue, NE campuses and may be finished off-campus through the Preceptorship Program. Designed for prospective students seeking a non-pharmaceutical, whole-body healthcare career.
• Life West Health Center (California Campus) Patient chiropractic clinic on the Hayward, California campus providing supervised chiropractic care, X-ray, and digital imaging services to the community while serving as a training site for Life West student interns.
• Life West Health Center (Nebraska Campus) Patient chiropractic clinic on the Bellevue, Nebraska campus providing supervised chiropractic care to the local community in the Omaha metro area and serving as a clinical training site for Life West student interns.
• Nexus Brain Center Specialty functional neurology clinic at Life West under Dr. Dan Perman (DACNB) providing advanced neurological examination and brain-health care to patients, while serving as a teaching site for student clinicians.
• The WAVE Annual Chiropractic Conference Life West's signature annual chiropractic conference offering up to 24 continuing education hours (12 in-person, 12 on-demand online), 15+ speakers across two days, networking events, a pre-event golf tournament, the President's Luncheon, and the Alumni Homecoming Reception. Tiered registration pricing for individuals, groups of 3+, and general (non-CE) admission.
• Postgraduate & Continuing Education (CE) Program Continuing-education program for licensed Doctors of Chiropractic, offering in-person seminars and an online on-demand course platform with a subscription option for unlimited access to CE seminars. Courses are approved in 25+ states including Alaska, California, and Colorado, supporting license renewal and professional development.
• Master of Science in Diagnostic Imaging (MSDI) Program Advanced Master of Science in Diagnostic Imaging program led by Founding Director Dr. Jamie Motley, DC, MSDI, DACBR, integrating Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) into chiropractic education — first-of-its-kind at a chiropractic college in the Western U.S.
• Chiropractic Preceptorship Program Final-year off-campus clinical training program, the first Chiropractic Preceptorship Program in the profession, allowing students to complete their last quarters working in busy chiropractic offices under the mentorship of a chosen DC. Academic portions can be moved online, and placements are available anywhere in the world to enable specialization focus and geographic flexibility.
• Life West Sports Performance Institute Program that gives Life West students hands-on experience delivering chiropractic care to elite and professional athletes, with longstanding partnerships including the Dew Tour and AVPFirst. Demonstrated alumni reach into US Women's National Soccer Team and other professional sports performance settings.
• International Service Trips International service-learning trips for Life West students to underserved communities including Tonga, India, Mexico, and Panama, providing chiropractic care and embodying the college's founding ethos of "Give, Do, Love & Serve." Subsidized through chiropractic community sponsorships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nebraska campus has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio in chiropractic education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dew TourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife West Sports Performance Institute has longstanding partnership with Dew Tour, providing students opportunity to gain valuable experience providing hands-on care to world-class athletes.
• AVPFirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife West Sports Performance Institute partnership with AVPFirst for student exposure to professional beach volleyball athletes and sports chiropractic care.
• International Chiropractic OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife West maintains relationships with organizations including International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), Sherman College, and various chiropractic associations for research, education, and professional development.
• Chiropractic Companies SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies in the chiropractic community sponsor service trips, allowing students to participate at subsidized costs for international service initiatives to India, Tonga, Mexico, and Panama.
• Standard ProcessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/exhibitor at The WAVE annual chiropractic conference; CEO Charlie DuBois featured on Leadership Line podcast.
• Clearlight Infrared SaunasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/exhibitor at The WAVE annual chiropractic conference.
• ChiroSecureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor at The WAVE annual chiropractic conference; malpractice insurance provider for chiropractors.
• ChiroJobsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/exhibitor at The WAVE annual chiropractic conference; chiropractic job board platform.
• Activator Methods InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-inventor Dr. Arlan Fuhr of Activator Adjusting Instrument and Technique featured on Leadership Line; relationship with technique developer organization.
• VA Healthcare SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Arlan Fuhr's ongoing mission to expand veterans' access to chiropractic care through the VA healthcare system discussed on Leadership Line podcast.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Parker University: A Dallas, Texas-based university offering the DC degree along with additional health sciences programs. Competes with Life West for students seeking a clinically-focused chiropractic education with broader health sciences exposure.
• National University of Health Sciences: An Illinois-based institution offering the DC degree alongside naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and other integrative health programs. Competes with Life West for students seeking an integrative, evidence-based chiropractic education.
• Logan University: A chiropractic and health sciences university in Missouri offering the DC degree along with master's and doctorate programs in nutrition and sports science. Competes directly with Life West for students seeking an integrated, evidence-informed chiropractic education.
• Palmer College of Chiropractic: The largest and most established chiropractic college in the U.S., operating three campuses (Iowa, California, Florida) and offering the DC degree with a similar vitalistic/traditional orientation. Palmer is Life West's most direct competitor for prospective chiropractic students nationwide.
• Sherman College of Chiropractic: A South Carolina-based chiropractic college that shares Life West's commitment to the vertebral subluxation-based, vitalistic paradigm. Closest philosophical peer and a direct competitor for students seeking traditional chiropractic education.
• Northeast College of Health Sciences: Formerly New York Chiropractic College, this Long Island, NY-based institution offers the DC degree alongside other health sciences programs. Competes with Life West in the Eastern U.S. for DC-program applicants.
• University of Western States: An Oregon-based health sciences university offering the DC degree with an emphasis on evidence-based, integrative care. Competes with Life West for prospective students, particularly on the West Coast, but with a more research-oriented positioning.
• Southern California University of Health Sciences: A Whittier, California-based health sciences university offering the DC degree alongside acupuncture, physician assistant, and other integrative health programs. Direct regional competitor to Life West in Southern California.

Emerging players

• D'Youville University: A Buffalo, NY-based university that has launched a DC program within a broader health sciences portfolio. A newer entrant into chiropractic education that may emerge as a competitor for students seeking chiropractic training within a multi-discipline university setting.

Regional players

• Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College: Canada's premier English-language chiropractic college, based in Toronto. A peer institution in curriculum, clinical training model, and vitalistic philosophy, though operating in a different national market with different regulatory scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lifewestedu
• Xx.com/lifewestcolleg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Life Chiropractic College West