Palmer College of Chiropractic

The Palmer School of Chiropractic was begun by Daniel David Palmer, who is the Founder of Chiropractic. His son, B. J. Palmer, is considered the Developer of Chiropractic because he greatly expanded the scope of the school and laid the foundation for the campus and profession that exists today. He assumed responsibility for the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1904. According to the Palmer College website, B. J. Palmer's "contributions included extensive research, improved methods of spinal adjusting and analysis, higher standards for chiropractic education, and increased appreciation for chiropractic worldwide".

After B. J. Palmer died in 1961, his son David D. Palmer became president of the school and changed its name to Palmer College of Chiropractic, which was one of the steps leading to the school's accreditation. "Dr. Dave", as he was known, modernized the campus, established non-profit status for the college, and organized the Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association. The college received accreditation from the Council on Chiropractic Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools largely through his leadership, but not until after he died in 1978.

The college opened campuses in San Jose, California in 1980 and in Port Orange, Florida in 2002. The college was once encompassed by the Palmer Chiropractic University System. While it is no longer a university system, Palmer is one college with three campuses, with the main campus located in Davenport, Iowa, and branch campuses (the San Jose campus and the Port Orange campus). The college is a non-profit organization governed by a single Board of Trustees.

Davenport, Iowa campus

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research was established in 1995 and is also located on the Davenport, Iowa campus in the William and Jo Harris Building. The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research is the largest and most highly funded research effort in the chiropractic educational community. The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research encompasses all three Palmer campuses and employs a Vice Chancellor of Research and Health Policy, a research director, ten full-time faculty, eight associate faculty, and 23 administrative and professional staff with a total annual budget of approximately $5 million per year, much of which is supported by grants and contracts.

The campus consists of new as well as historic buildings. The Palmer College of Chiropractic Academic Health Center (opened in 2007), which contains the College's outpatient clinic, welcome center, Clinical Radiology Department (featuring digital radiology), Chiropractic Rehabilitation and Sports Injury Department, and the Clinical Learning Resource Center. Other buildings include the David D. Palmer Health Sciences Library, the Memorial Building (the oldest building on campus), Campus Center, B.J. and Mabel Palmer Residence, Vickie Anne Palmer Hall, among others.

Port Orange campus

Palmer's Florida campus is located in Port Orange, Florida. The Palmer Port Orange campus was opened in 2002.

San Jose campus

Palmer's West campus was located in San Jose, California. The San Jose Campus closed in June 2025. The Palmer board decided in mid-March 2022 to close the campus due to the "escalation of the building lease, the high cost of living, the employment market, and the college's cost to deliver the program in California compelled the decision to phase out the West campus".