Best colleges for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
Ranked by graduate earnings
Compare 82 U.S. colleges offering Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 30 states.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,755 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.33 and the Acupuncturists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs
The Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems program focuses on various non-conventional health practices and therapies. It is designed for students interested in exploring holistic approaches to health care, including acupuncture, naturopathy, and Ayurvedic medicine. This program is suitable for those who wish to integrate alternative methods with conventional medical practices.
Learn more about Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems →
Students in this program will develop essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers a range of topics, including customer service, biology, and psychology, preparing graduates to create individualized treatment plans and adhere to safety and regulatory standards.
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont State University Randolph, VT Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,347 | 22 | 47% | — | — |
| 2 | Everglades University Boca Raton, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,847 | 134 | 61% | $29,513 | $55,204 |
| 3 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $38,789 | 19 | 11% | $26,445 | $39,188 |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,302 | 17 | 32% | — | $27,452 |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate | $27,262 | 134 | 67% | $58,427 | $12,125 |
| 2 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate | $25,956 | 68 | 35% | — | $17,035 |
| 3 | Northern Essex Community College Haverhill, MA Public · Certificate Small program | $49,459 | 12 | 21% | — | — |
| 4 | Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate Online | $27,755 | 74 | 50% | $45,633 | $20,378 |
| 5 | American College of Healthcare Sciences Portland, OR Private for-profit · Certificate Online | $22,265 | 242 | 100% | $24,073 | $19,860 |
| 6 | The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Milwaukee, WI Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $18,235 | 6 | 90% | $15,441 | $10,666 |
Specializations within Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
7 of the 8 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.33 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Acupuncture and Oriental MedicineCIP 51.33011,453 graduates / yr45 institutions21 states
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical SystemsCIP 51.3300partial data422 graduates / yr7 institutions7 states
- Holistic/CIP 51.3306
Integrative Health 399 graduates / yr20 institutions15 states - Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical SystemsCIP 51.3399partial data242 graduates / yr6 institutions5 states
- Naturopathic Medicine/CIP 51.3303
Naturopathy partial data201 graduates / yr7 institutions6 states - Ayurvedic Medicine/CIP 51.3305
Ayurveda partial data142 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states - Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese HerbologyCIP 51.3302119 graduates / yr13 institutions11 states
Show all 8 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Homeopathic Medicine/
Homeopathy51.3304
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 30 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusettslimited | 2 | $49,459 | Northern Essex Community College |
| Arizona | 5 | $38,789 | The University of Arizona Global Campus |
| Vermontlimited | 1 | $35,347 | Vermont State University |
| Colorado | 5 | $33,302 | Metropolitan State University of Denver |
| California | 12 | $27,755 | Southern California University of Health Sciences |
| Florida | 5 | $26,847 | Everglades University |
| Oregonlimited | 2 | $22,265 | American College of Healthcare Sciences |
| Wisconsin | 3 | $18,235 | The Institute of Beauty and Wellness |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinois | 6 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marylandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Minnesota | 6 | — | — |
| Missourilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 2 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 2 | — | — |
| Ohio | 3 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 2 | — | — |
| New York | 3 | — | — |
| Texaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Hawaiilimited | 1 | — | — |
| North Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 2 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1291, Acupuncturists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems program can expect a faster-than-average job growth rate of 6.8%, with approximately 900 annual openings. The typical education required is a master's degree, and the median wage for professionals in this field is $78,140.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.33.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.33 (Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 29-1291 | Acupuncturistsprimary |
| 29-1299 | Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other |
| 29-9099 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
- Treat patients using tools, such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
- Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
- Identify correct anatomical and proportional point locations based on patients' anatomy and positions, contraindications, and precautions related to treatments, such as intradermal needles, moxibustion, electricity, guasha, or bleeding.
- Develop individual treatment plans and strategies.
- Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, Homeopathic Medicine, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 6.8% and about 900 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A master's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates earn?+
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,755, College Scorecard (2019); the Acupuncturists occupation pays about $87,020 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems?+
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems maps to CIP 51.33 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card