Los Angeles College of Chiropractic

What Los Angeles College of Chiropractic does

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), operating historically as the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, is a private nonprofit health sciences university founded in 1911 and headquartered in Whittier, California, with a secondary campus in Tempe, Arizona. The institution delivers integrated, whole-person healthcare education across doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and certificate programs spanning Chiropractic, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Medical Science, Physician Assistant, Genetic Counseling, Human Genetics and Genomics, Ayurveda, and Health Education. SCU also operates SCU Health, an integrative clinical care facility handling nearly 50,000 patient visits annually across primary care, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, and behavioral health, which functions as the institution's interprofessional training environment.

The university's core technology stack is built around the Canvas learning management system supporting in-person, blended, and online program delivery, with centralized application services (PTCAS, OTCAS, CASPA) handling admissions pipelines. SCU generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees, with doctoral and professional program tuition ranging from approximately $5,455 to $21,651 per term depending on program intensity. Federal Title IV student loans, institutional and donor-funded scholarships, and Veterans Administration education benefits (Chapters 30, 31, 33) form the secondary funding mechanics. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across two physical campuses plus online modalities, targeting graduate and professional students seeking integrative medicine training unavailable at conventional health sciences universities.

Strategic activity in 2025 has been notable: SCU launched the Institute for the Advancement of Whole Health and the first-of-its-kind Doctor of Whole Health Leadership program developed with Veterans Health Administration Whole Health leaders, inaugurated a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program, and continues to receive NIH and private foundation research funding for integrative care evidence generation. The institution is regionally accredited by WSCUC and holds programmatic accreditations across its professional programs, maintaining Title IV eligibility and VA approval.

Name

Los Angeles College of Chiropractic

Legal name

Southern California University of Health Sciences

Website

https://scuhs.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southern California University of Health Sciences is a private nonprofit health sciences university founded in 1911, headquartered in Whittier, California, with a Tempe, Arizona campus, offering doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and certificate programs in chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, genetic counseling, and integrative whole-person healthcare, supported by an on-site clinical training facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Chiropractic education
• Health sciences programs
• Integrative medicine training
• Doctoral health degrees
• Complementary medicine programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Whittier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition charges across doctoral, master's, bachelor's degree programs and certificates. Tuition varies by program with graduate/professional programs ranging from approximately $5,455 to $21,651 per term. Additional revenue from program fees, application fees, and licensing/certification costs.
2. Federal Student Loans: Federal student loans constitute major funding source for students, including Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, and Parent PLUS Loans. SCU acts as intermediary for federal loan disbursement.
3. Scholarships and Grants: Institutional scholarships funded through donor programs including Alumni Scholarship, Cooke Scholarship, Institutional Benefactor Scholarship, Fitches Scholarship, Mindlin Scholarship, Legacy Scholarship, and program-specific scholarships. Federal Pell Grants for eligible undergraduate students.
4. Veterans Education Benefits: SCU participates in VA education benefit programs including Chapter 30 (MGIB-AD), Chapter 31 (VR&E), Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), and other VA chapters. VA pays tuition/fees directly and provides housing allowances and book stipends to eligible veterans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCU provides accredited healthcare education programs including doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and certificate degrees in chiropractic, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, physician assistant studies, genetic counseling, psychology, and whole health leadership. The institution complements classroom instruction with clinical training at the SCU Health clinic and delivers programs through in-person, blended, and online modalities at campuses in Whittier, CA and Tempe, AZ.

Product overview

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) operates as an integrative, whole-person healthcare education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and certificate programs. The university provides Doctor of Chiropractic, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Whole Health Leadership, Doctor of Psychology, and Doctor of Medical Science programs at the doctoral level. Master's programs include Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Medical Science, Genetic Counseling, Human Genetics and Genomics, and Physician Assistant. The institution also offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Ayurveda certificates, and a Health Education Certificate. SCU Health clinic provides nearly 50,000 patient visits annually offering integrative care. The Institute for the Advancement of Whole Health, established in 2025, focuses on accelerating whole-person care adoption through education, research, and advocacy. Programs are delivered in-person, blended, or online formats at campuses in Whittier, CA and Phoenix, AZ.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCU Health: Clinical care division providing integrative, whole-person care including primary care, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, and behavioral health services. Receives nearly 50,000 patient visits annually.
• Institute for the Advancement of Whole Health
• Office of Institutional and Academic Insights (IAI)

Products and services

• Doctor of Chiropractic Doctoral degree program in chiropractic medicine offered at Whittier, CA and Phoenix, AZ campuses. Trains students in integrative, whole-person chiropractic care with eligibility for licensure through the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
• Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Doctoral degree program in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, training practitioners in Eastern medicine approaches for licensure and clinical practice.
• Doctor of Physical Therapy Doctoral degree in physical therapy offered in blended format at Whittier, CA and Phoenix, AZ campuses with CAPTE programmatic accreditation.
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral degree in occupational therapy offered with low residency format at Whittier, CA and Phoenix, AZ campuses.
• Doctor of Whole Health Leadership First-of-its-kind doctoral program launched in 2025, developed in partnership with Whole Health transformation leaders and VA Whole Health initiative architects, training leaders in healthcare transformation and whole-person care.
• Doctor of Psychology in Psychodynamic Psychology Doctoral degree in psychology with focus on psychodynamic psychology, offered in blended format.
• Doctor of Medical Science Online doctoral degree program in medical science delivered 100% online.
• Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Master's degree program in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine training practitioners in Eastern medicine approaches.
• Master of Science in Medical Science Master's degree in medical science offered in blended and online formats.
• Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC) Master's degree in genetic counseling; inaugural cohort launched September 2025, aligned with SCU's mission to transform healthcare education through a Whole Health lens.
• Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics Master's degree program in human genetics and genomics, offered online, with graduate certificate option.
• Master of Science: Physician Assistant Master's degree program for physician assistants, offered in blended format with ACGME accreditation, preparing students for PA licensure.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Bachelor's degree in health sciences offered online for students seeking foundational healthcare education.
• Ayurveda Certificate Programs Certificate programs in Ayurveda including Lifestyle Coach, Health Counselor, and Practitioner certificates, offered online and low residency.
• Health Education Certificate Post-baccalaureate certificate in health education offered online.
• SCU Health Clinic Clinical care facility providing integrative, whole-person care receiving nearly 50,000 patient visits annually. Services include primary care, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, behavioral health, and other complementary approaches.
• Institute for the Advancement of Whole Health Action organization established in 2025 devoted to accelerating the nation's adoption of whole-person care through education, research, advocacy, standard-setting, and clinical care.
• Accelerated Science Courses Accelerated science courses for students seeking to advance their healthcare education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% reduction in opioid use among VA Whole Health model patients compared to 11% under standard care
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIH provides research funding for SCU's Clinical Research Department focused exclusively on advancing the science of integrative, whole-person care, examining safety, efficacy, efficiency, and accessibility.
• Veterans Health Administration (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCU developed the Doctor of Whole Health Leadership program in partnership with the nation's leaders in Whole Health transformation and architects of the VA's Whole Health initiative. SCU's Whole Health University standards are aligned with VA's systemwide model of care.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bastyr University: Bastyr University is a private nonprofit institution focused on natural health sciences and integrative medicine, offering doctoral and master's programs in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, and psychology. Like SCU, Bastyr emphasizes whole-person care and interprofessional training, making it a directly comparable integrative health sciences university.
• Logan University: Logan University is a private nonprofit health sciences institution offering chiropractic, physician assistant, and health sciences programs with an emphasis on integrated care. Its multi-program structure and clinical training model position it as a close peer to SCU's program portfolio.
• Life University: Life University is a private health sciences institution primarily known for its Doctor of Chiropractic program and related undergraduate and graduate programs. It competes directly with SCU for chiropractic applicants and shares the focus on whole-person, vitalistic healthcare education.
• Northwestern Health Sciences University: Northwestern Health Sciences University is a private nonprofit institution in Minnesota offering chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and nutrition programs. It directly competes for prospective students seeking careers in integrative and complementary healthcare.
• National University of Health Sciences: NUHS is a private nonprofit health sciences university offering programs in chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and biomedical sciences. Its integrative, whole-person philosophy and program mix closely mirror SCU's portfolio, and it serves a similar prospective student seeking complementary and integrative health education.
• Parker University: Parker University is a private health sciences institution in Dallas offering chiropractic, massage therapy, and business programs. It is a direct competitor for prospective chiropractic students and shares SCU's small, specialized, tuition-driven private university model.
• Northeast College of Health Sciences: Formerly New York Chiropractic College, Northeast College of Health Sciences is a private health sciences institution offering chiropractic, acupuncture, and other health science programs. Its integrative and whole-person focus and program mix position it as a close peer to SCU.
• University of Western States: UWS is a private health sciences university in Oregon offering programs in chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, human nutrition, and clinical mental health counseling. Its integrative care focus and multi-program portfolio make it a close comparable to SCU.
• Palmer College of Chiropractic: Palmer is the largest and oldest chiropractic college in the U.S. (founded 1897), offering the Doctor of Chiropractic along with related programs. It directly competes with SCU's flagship DC program for prospective chiropractic students and shares the integrative, hands-on clinical training model.
• Cleveland University-Kansas City: Cleveland University-Kansas City offers Doctor of Chiropractic and other health sciences programs, with a focused, specialized health sciences portfolio similar to SCU's flagship programs. It competes directly for prospective chiropractic students in the Midwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFUbgvwb96QrzeD8fm7BsLQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/134456873282505
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-california-university-o
• Instagraminstagram.com/scuhs
• Xx.com/SCUHS

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles College of Chiropractic