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Naturopathic doctor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a naturopathic doctor. Naturopathic doctors usually study alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems, biology, or medicine. 43% of naturopathic doctors hold a doctoral degree, and 42% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 95 real naturopathic doctor resumes to see exactly what naturopathic doctor education sections show.
The most common colleges for naturopathic doctors are the Bastyr University and the Bastyr University.
There are also many online naturopathic doctor courses to help get the education required to be a naturopathic doctor.
What education do you need to become a naturopathic doctor?
What degree do you need to be a naturopathic doctor?
- Doctorate, 43%
- Bachelor's, 42%
- Master's, 12%
- Diploma, 3%
What should I major in to become a naturopathic doctor?
Most common colleges for naturopathic doctors
| Naturopathic doctor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bastyr University | 26.47% |
| National University of Natural Medicine | 14.71% |
| University of Bridgeport | 8.82% |
| Eastern Michigan University | 2.94% |
| Adams State University | 2.94% |
Best majors for naturopathic doctors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical Systems | 44.3% |
| 2 | Biology | 11.5% |
| 3 | Medicine | 8.2% |
| 4 | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | 4.9% |
| 5 | Speech-Language Pathology | 3.3% |
Best colleges for naturopathic doctors
The best colleges for naturopathic doctors are Harvard University, Stanford University, and Cornell University.
A naturopathic doctor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for naturopathic doctors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become naturopathic doctors.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. Wayne State University
Detroit, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$13,097
Enrollment
17,114
5. University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,633
Enrollment
17,321
6. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
8. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$49,042
Enrollment
5,131
9. University of California - Davis
Davis, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,402
Enrollment
30,698
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for naturopathic doctors
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1. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
2. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
3. Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Advanced Diploma
A complete program in one course, This Diploma is an Encyclopedia in The Natural Medicine field...
4. Doctor of Natural Medicine
This course is a mini encyclopedia in natural medicine field...
5. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...
6. National Academy of Sports Medicine Nutrition Essentials
NASM's Nutrition Coaching Essentials enables you to provide evidence-based guidance to those seeking to improve body composition, athletic performance, and health. By successfully completing this program, you will have the knowledge and abilities to leverage nutrition education to increase your client's success, reduce turnover, and maximize adherence. Held to the highest standard of research-based theory and practice, the Nutrition Essentials program teaches you how to provide nutritional...
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Life Coaching: Create a Workout & Nutrition Plan Based on Your Clients' Fitness, Weight Loss, Dieting & Nutrition Goals...
9. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
10. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers
This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...
11. Nutrition for Inflammation - The Anti-inflammatory Diet
Heal Your Body Using Food as Medicine...
12. Nutrition Certification: The Correct Dieting & Meal PLaning
Master Nutrition/ Dieting for healthy Weight Loss & Building Muscles (Adapt with COVID-19)...
13. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...
14. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation
Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...
15. Superfoods, Herbalism, Nutrition Basics and Your Health
Eat For Success. Discover Nutrition Basics For Optimal Performance and Weight Loss...
16. Weight Loss And Nutrition: Lose Fat & Get Your Dream Body
Learn The Truth About Dieting For Weight Loss, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning, Fat Loss, Weight Loss Motivation...
17. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations
Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...
18. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Nutrition
Learn the Fundamentals of Nutrition Science...
19. Fully Accredited Professional Nutritionist Diploma Course
Complete Nutrition For All - Exploring All Elements of Nutrition. Healthy Eating & Nutrition for all ages!...
20. Herbalism:: Medicinal Kitchen Herbs & Spices Certificate
Discover how common kitchen herbs and spices are used as herbal medicine and natural medicine for ultimate health...
Top 10 most affordable universities for naturopathic doctors
The most affordable schools for naturopathic doctors are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, university of north carolina at chapel hill, and purdue university.
If the best universities for naturopathic doctors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for naturopathic doctors.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
3. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
4. University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$9,222
Cost of attendance
20,422
5. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. Augusta University
Augusta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$8,604
Cost of attendance
20,618
8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce
Mercedita, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,914
Cost of attendance
13,564
9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas
Barranquitas, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,902
Cost of attendance
13,479
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for naturopathic doctors
The hardest universities for naturopathic doctors to get into are Harvard University, Stanford University, and Cornell University.
Some great schools for naturopathic doctors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for naturopathic doctors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,443
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for naturopathic doctors
The easiest schools for naturopathic doctors to get into are Life University, st. catherine university, and augusta university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a naturopathic doctor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for naturopathic doctors.
1. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
2. St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
Admissions rate
73%
SAT average
1,124
3. Augusta University
Augusta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,172
4. Washington State University
Pullman, WA • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,123
5. Wright State University
Dayton, OH • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
1,100
6. MCPHS University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,144
7. University of Nevada - Reno
Reno, NV • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,172
8. Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,107
9. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
74%
SAT average
1,120
10. East Carolina University
Greenville, NC • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,124
Average naturopathic doctor salary by education level
| Naturopathic doctor education level | Naturopathic doctor salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $144,544 |
| No Education | $140,079 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $140,614 |
| Master's Degree | $160,596 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $103,079 |
Naturopathic doctor education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025