Best institutions to study Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
A general program that focuses on the theories, science, and practice of alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 422 Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3300, a specialization of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems (CIP 51.33), and leads most directly to the Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 29-1299).
About Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs
A general program that focuses on the theories, science, and practice of alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems. Includes instruction in understanding acupuncture, herbal medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, and other alternative and complementary medicine modalities; mind-body therapies; nutrition; comparison of conventional and alternative medicine; and medical ethics; and may include training in specific alternative and complementary medicine modalities.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems program offers students a comprehensive understanding of various alternative healthcare practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in exploring non-conventional approaches to health and wellness, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and mind-body therapies. It is ideal for those seeking to expand their knowledge in holistic health and integrative medicine.
Students will engage with core subjects such as the theories and practices of alternative medicine, nutrition, and medical ethics. Coursework may include training in specific modalities and a comparison of conventional and alternative medical systems, equipping graduates with a well-rounded perspective on health care.
Credentials awarded
What Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree178 graduates / yr · 2 institutions42%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years74 graduates / yr · 2 institutions18%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year68 graduates / yr · 4 institutions16%
- Associate's degree59 graduates / yr · 1 institution14%
- Master's degree32 graduates / yr · 3 institutions7.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate11 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.6%
Graduates over time
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 325 |
| 2013 | 325 |
| 2014 | 257 |
| 2015 | 175 |
| 2016 | 250 |
| 2017 | 222 |
| 2018 | 463 |
| 2019 | 413 |
| 2020 | 412 |
| 2021 | 410 |
| 2022 | 360 |
| 2023 | 442 |
| 2024 | 405 |
| 2025 | 422 |
Top 7 institutions for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American College of Healthcare Sciences Portland, ORPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 242 | 100% | $24,073 | $22,265 |
| 2 | Everglades University Boca Raton, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 134 | 61% | $29,513 | $26,847 |
| 3 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 20% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 49% | — | — |
| 5 | Oakton College Des Plaines, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 37% | — | — |
| 6 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 3 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
| 7 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 50% | $24,333 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems field (CIP 51.33) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states
Where Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates come from. Each state links to all Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 1 | 242 | American College of Healthcare Sciences242 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 134 | Everglades University134 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 26 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College26 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 9 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee9 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 6 | Oakton College6 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 3 | Saint Louis University3 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 2 | Notre Dame of Maryland University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1299, Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, among other roles. The job outlook for this field indicates a growth rate of about 2.0%, with approximately 2,400 annual openings. The median wage for positions typically requiring a master's degree is around $113,730.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3300
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Otherprimary SOC 29-1299 | $115,210 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~2,400 | Master's degree |
Related careers
Other Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems (CIP 51.33).
- Acupuncture and Oriental MedicineCIP 51.33011,453 graduates / yr45 institutions
- Holistic/CIP 51.3306
Integrative Health 399 graduates / yr20 institutions - Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical SystemsCIP 51.3399partial data242 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Naturopathic Medicine/CIP 51.3303
Naturopathy partial data201 graduates / yr7 institutions - Ayurvedic Medicine/CIP 51.3305
Ayurveda partial data142 graduates / yr4 institutions - Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese HerbologyCIP 51.3302119 graduates / yr13 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes 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.
See all Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or shorter awards ranging from 12 weeks to less than 2 academic years.
What topics are covered in the coursework?+
Coursework includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, nutrition, and medical ethics.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 2.0%.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
Most careers in this field typically require a Master's degree.
What is the CIP code for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems?+
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems is CIP 51.3300 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems (CIP 51.33). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on the theories, science, and practice of alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems. Includes instruction in understanding acupuncture, herbal medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, and other alternative and complementary medicine modalities; mind-body therapies; nutrition; comparison of conventional and alternative medicine; and medical ethics; and may include training in specific alternative and complementary medicine modalities.
How many institutions offer Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 422 credentials in the year. That is 14.2% of all Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates.
How much do Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other occupation, which Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems most directly leads to, pays a median of $115,210 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems field report median earnings of $26,847 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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