
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a private institution in Los Angeles devoted to education in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Brothers Mao Shing Ni and Daoshing Ni founded it in 1989, drawing on their family's practice of Chinese medicine. The university takes its name from their grandfather, Yo San Ni.
Its history helps explain its specialized identity: it developed as a school for prospective practitioners rather than as a broad undergraduate university. Applicants comparing it with other colleges should therefore focus on its current professional programs, clinical training, and licensing preparation - not on the range of majors or campus activities typical of a comprehensive university.
Yo San University organizes its academic work around acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and clinical practice, rather than a collection of undergraduate colleges. Its graduate-level education has included master's and doctoral study in these fields.
Coursework in this type of program combines medical sciences with acupuncture theory, herbal studies, diagnosis, ethics, and supervised patient care. The university's teaching clinic is an important part of that structure: clinical education requires students to apply what they learn under appropriate supervision. Because degree titles and curricula can change, applicants should check the current catalog for the exact credential, required clinical hours, and whether a program meets the licensing rules where they intend to practice.
Yo San University is located in Los Angeles, California, on the city's Westside near Culver City. Its urban setting gives students access to a large metropolitan patient community, but it also makes travel time and transportation costs practical considerations.
Students should plan around the location of both classes and required clinical shifts. Public transit may serve parts of the area, while a trip that looks short on a map can take considerably longer during Los Angeles traffic. Applicants who expect to commute should check their likely route at the times they would actually attend classes or clinic.
Yo San University's stated educational purpose centers on preparing practitioners of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine through classroom learning and clinical experience. Its approach reflects the Chinese medical tradition associated with its founders while placing students in a contemporary professional training environment.
That mission describes what the institution aims to teach; it is not, by itself, evidence of a particular graduate outcome. Prospective students can assess how the stated purpose translates into practice by examining the current curriculum, supervised clinic requirements, faculty qualifications, and preparation for California licensure.
Name of the institution
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese MedicineLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degreesInstitution size category
Under 1,000Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.