Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
Offered at 132 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 21 | $25,770 | $39,369 | $17,100 |
| Associate | 6 | — | $30,733 | — |
| Bachelor's | 10 | $33,605 | $45,853 | $40,289 |
| Master's | 47 | $33,411 | $40,112 | — |
| Doctoral | 11 | $38,442 | $52,156 | — |
| Professional | 22 | $36,368 | $53,113 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 15 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $25,770, versus $33,605 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Essex Community College | MA | — | $59,736 | — |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | WI | $43,732 | — | $28,250 |
| 3 | Front Range Community College | CO | — | $40,595 | $23,693 |
| 4 | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts | AZ | $20,330 | $38,143 | $12,813 |
| 5 | ICOHS College | CA | $34,249 | — | $9,500 |
| 6 | Southern California University of Health Sciences | CA | $28,111 | — | $17,100 |
| 7 | American College of Healthcare Sciences | OR | $19,952 | $27,618 | $22,563 |
| 8 | Healing Mountain Massage School | UT | $23,429 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front Range Community College | CO | $32,085 | $38,240 | $36,770 |
| 2 | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts | AZ | — | $30,733 | — |
| 3 | American College of Healthcare Sciences | OR | $16,931 | $24,759 | $35,244 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | CO | $33,605 | $49,890 | $24,317 |
| 2 | The University of Arizona Global Campus | AZ | $43,308 | $45,853 | $46,719 |
| 3 | Everglades University | FL | $31,786 | $37,684 | $55,184 |
| 4 | New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine | NY | $35,349 | — | — |
| 5 | Maharishi International University | IA | $23,077 | — | $41,206 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine | NY | $33,411 | $62,247 | — |
| 2 | St Catherine University | MN | — | $60,948 | — |
| 3 | University of Bridgeport | CT | — | $49,051 | — |
| 4 | California Institute of Integral Studies | CA | — | $48,418 | — |
| 5 | Northwestern Health Sciences University | MN | $21,218 | $46,357 | — |
| 6 | Virginia University of Integrative Medicine | VA | $46,173 | — | — |
| 7 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | MA | $43,765 | $43,790 | — |
| 8 | Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley | CA | — | $42,524 | — |
| 9 | Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine | WI | $24,452 | $41,682 | — |
| 10 | Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie | IL | $24,452 | $41,682 | — |
| 11 | Maharishi International University | IA | $41,083 | — | — |
| 12 | New York College of Health Professions | NY | $40,558 | — | — |
| 13 | Five Branches University | CA | $28,952 | $40,112 | — |
| 14 | Bastyr University | WA | $44,183 | $39,312 | — |
| 15 | Pacific College of Health and Science | IL | $36,277 | $37,856 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Institute of Integral Studies | CA | — | $55,771 | — |
| 2 | Five Branches University | CA | $55,227 | — | — |
| 3 | Bastyr University | WA | $43,851 | $52,481 | — |
| 4 | University of Bridgeport | CT | — | $51,831 | — |
| 5 | National University of Health Sciences | IL | $33,034 | $49,633 | — |
| 6 | Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts | NC | $21,527 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning professional programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoran University of Health Sciences | AZ | $41,971 | $62,098 | — |
| 2 | National University of Natural Medicine | OR | $36,368 | $53,113 | — |
| 3 | Pacific College of Health and Science | IL | $33,806 | $42,599 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drexel University | PA | — | $123,106 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems reports median earnings of $33,605. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
