Best institutions to study Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
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 a median of $27,755 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Essex Community College Haverhill, MA Public · Certificate degree | $49,459 | 12 | 21% | — | — |
| 2 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,789 | 19 | 11% | $26,445 | $39,188 |
| 3 | Vermont State University Randolph, VT Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,347 | 22 | 47% | — | — |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,302 | 17 | 32% | — | $27,452 |
| 5 | Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $27,755 | 74 | 50% | $45,633 | $20,378 |
| 6 | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $27,262 | 134 | 67% | $58,427 | $12,125 |
| 7 | Everglades University Boca Raton, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,847 | 134 | 61% | $29,513 | $55,204 |
| 8 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate degree | $25,956 | 68 | 35% | — | $17,035 |
| 9 | American College of Healthcare Sciences Portland, OR Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $22,265 | 242 | 100% | $24,073 | $19,860 |
| 10 | The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Milwaukee, WI Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $18,235 | 6 | 90% | $15,441 | $10,666 |
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.
Concentrations within Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, GeneralCIP 51.3300
A general program that focuses on the theories, science, and practice of alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems
- Acupuncture and Oriental MedicineCIP 51.3301
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of acupuncture, a Chinese system of health care and healing based on the use of pulse diagnosis, acupuncture point selecti
- Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese HerbologyCIP 51.3302
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of Chinese herbal medicine, a system based on the use of nutrition, natural products, and prescribed medical formulae to t
- Naturopathic Medicine/NaturopathyCIP 51.3303
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of naturopathic medicine, an holistic therapeutic approach combining medical knowledge with noninvasive natural, homeopath
- Homeopathic Medicine/HomeopathyCIP 51.3304
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of homeopathic medicine, an holistic therapeutic system using naturally occurring substances in highly diluted forms to mi
- Ayurvedic Medicine/AyurvedaCIP 51.3305
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of Ayurveda, a holistic health care system based on the use of dietary, lifestyle, spiritual, pharmacological and physical
- Holistic/Integrative HealthCIP 51.3306
A program that focuses on the holistic interconnectedness of physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being and that integrates aspects of alternative, complementary, and con
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, OtherCIP 51.3399
Any instructional program in alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems not listed above.
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 of $27,755 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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.
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