Have you paid off your student loan yet? If average student-loan debt for graduates of the chiropractic program and similar postgraduate education programs in this state is any indication of the nationwide reality, you're not even close.
An analysis of more than 500 programs at 57 institutions in Oregon reveals that graduates of the University of Western States (Doctor of Chiropractic degree program) carry an average student-loan debt of $169,703. Here are the state's top 10 debt-generating programs based on the analysis of 2015-2016 U.S. Department of Education data by American City Business Journals, parent company of the Portland Business Journal:
#1: Oregon Health & Science University (dentistry, first professional degree) – $276,675
#2: National University of Natural Medicine (alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems, first professional degree) – $231,702
#3: Oregon Health & Science University (medicine, first professional degree) – $221,089
#4: Pacific University (clinical counseling and applied psychology, doctoral degree) – $209,599
#5: Pacific University (pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and administration, doctoral degree) – $199,228
#6: Pacific University (optometry, doctoral degree) – $180,654
#7: University of Western States (chiropractic, first professional degree) – $169,703
#8: Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems, master's degree) – $159,504
#9: Oregon State University (veterinary medicine, first professional degree) – $155,786
#10: Willamette University (law, first professional degree) – $154,190
Note that all but one (#10, the law program above) of the top 10 programs involve health care. Data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
A historic meeting between chiropractic and Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) leadership took place on March 10th, 2026, in Washington, D.C., featuring representatives from chiropractic national organizations, professional associations and policy principals. The collective goal: advancing the role of chiropractic in improving the health of Americans. Meeting participants focused on long-standing issues that have affected the chiropractic profession for decades, including access to care, reimbursement parity, and ensuring DCs have an appropriate role in national health policy discussions.
Radicular-like pain of the upper and lower extremities is among the most common presentations in musculoskeletal and spine-related practice. Traditionally, these symptoms are interpreted through a disc-centric and dermatomal framework, often leading clinicians to attribute limb pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness to spinal nerve-root pathology. While this approach is appropriate in cases of true radiculopathy, it frequently falls short when symptoms fail to follow consistent dermatomal patterns or correlate poorly with imaging findings.
A 46-year-old male presented to our clinic with a seven-year history of recurrent low back pain with sciatica. He reported stiffness and discomfort that worsened with prolonged sitting both at his desk job and during evening television time. The patient had seen multiple chiropractors over the years. In every case, spinal manipulation and other passive treatments would bring gradual symptom relief over 2-3 months. However, within another 3-6 months, the symptoms would return. Frustrated – and now considering a spinal injection and possibly surgery if that failed, he came to our office seeking a different approach.
