Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs
CIP 5133 · Health Professions & Clinical Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
36 institutions report graduate earnings for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $37,879 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 2.51× and 52% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 40 of the 46 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drexel UniversityPA · Grad cert | $116,187 n=18 | – | $66,625 | 0.57× | Above +81% | – |
| 2 | St Catherine UniversityMN · Master's | $67,910 n=20 | – | $37,960 | 0.56× | Below -1% | – |
| 3 | Sonoran University of Health SciencesAZ · Professional | $61,302 n=79 | 64% 1yr | $224,000 | 3.65× | Below +0% | – |
| 4 | Northern Essex Community CollegeMA · UG cert | $60,753 n=24 | – | $7,000 | 0.12× | Above +40% | – |
| 5 | Bastyr UniversityWA · Doctoral | $53,515 n=189 | 43% | $300,530 | 5.62× | Below -28% | Below 2/2 |
| 6 | National University of Health SciencesIL · Doctoral | $49,244 n=63 | 81% 5yr | $203,837 | 4.14× | Below -28% | Below 2/2 |
| 7 | Northeast College of Health SciencesNY · Master's | $49,052 n=32 | – | $127,766 | 2.60× | Below -31% | – |
| 8 | National University of Natural MedicineOR · Professional | $48,358 n=221 | 19% | $263,594 | 5.45× | Below -22% | Below 2/2 |
| 9 | Metropolitan State University of DenverCO · Bachelor's | $45,766 n=40 | 56% 1yr | $20,698 | 0.45× | Above +10% | Below 1/2 |
| 10 | MCPHS UniversityMA · Master's | $45,248 n=57 | 54% 1yr | $92,150 | 2.04× | Below -40% | – |
| 11 | Bastyr UniversityWA · Master's | $45,224 n=36 | – | $156,482 | 3.46× | Below -40% | Below 2/2 |
| 12 | California Institute of Integral StudiesCA · Doctoral | $45,097 n=62 | 47% 1yr | $112,750 | 2.50× | Below -40% | – |
| 13 | Ashford UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $44,036 n=202 | 58% | $31,375 | 0.71× | Above +15% | Below 1/2 |
| 14 | Colorado Chinese Medicine UniversityCO · Master's | $42,437 n=30 | 54% 5yr | $92,815 | 2.19× | Below -37% | Below 2/2 |
| 15 | Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyCA · Master's | $41,043 n=25 | 75% 5yr | $102,806 | 2.50× | Below -45% | Below 2/2 |
| 16 | Vermont State UniversityVT · Bachelor's | $40,273 n=24 | – | – | – | Above +3% | – |
| 17 | Maryland University of Integrative HealthMD · Master's | $40,009 n=47 | – | $109,500 | 2.74× | Below -47% | Below 2/2 |
| 18 | Maryland University of Integrative HealthMD · Post-bacc cert | $39,585 n=22 | – | – | – | Below -48% | – |
| 19 | Northwestern Health Sciences UniversityMN · Master's | $39,071 n=22 | – | $105,778 | 2.71× | Below -43% | – |
| 20 | University of BridgeportCT · Doctoral | $38,718 n=20 | 72% 5yr | $175,111 | 4.52× | Below -48% | Below 2/2 |
| 21 | Won Institute of Graduate StudiesPA · Master's | $38,633 n=27 | – | – | – | Below -40% | – |
| 22 | Front Range Community CollegeCO · Associate | $38,213 n=18 | – | $19,249 | 0.50× | Below -8% | Below 2/2 |
| 23 | Maryland University of Integrative HealthMD · Doctoral | $38,005 n=28 | – | $144,500 | 3.80× | Below -50% | – |
| 24 | National University of Health SciencesIL · Master's | $37,753 n=30 | – | $133,129 | 3.53× | Below -45% | – |
| 25 | Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional MedicineNJ · Master's | $37,062 n=18 | – | – | – | Below -52% | – |
| 26 | Everglades UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $36,960 n=152 | 41% | $41,749 | 1.13× | Above +9% | Below 1/2 |
| 27 | Southwest Institute of Healing ArtsAZ · UG cert | $36,360 n=136 | 32% | $7,917 | 0.22× | Below -1% | Below 2/2 |
| 28 | Pacific College of Health and ScienceCA · Professional | $34,773 n=186 | 52% 1yr | $31,631 | 0.91× | Below -54% | – |
| 29 | Pacific College of Health and ScienceIL · Professional | $34,773 n=186 | 52% 1yr | $31,631 | 0.91× | Below -49% | – |
| 30 | Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-RacineWI · Master's | $34,068 n=28 | – | $85,644 | 2.51× | Below -45% | – |
| 31 | Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-SkokieIL · Master's | $34,068 n=28 | – | $85,644 | 2.51× | Below -50% | – |
| 32 | Front Range Community CollegeCO · UG cert | $31,243 n=33 | – | $15,249 | 0.49× | Below -25% | – |
| 33 | American College of Healthcare SciencesOR · UG cert | $31,204 n=68 | 37% 1yr | $10,597 | 0.34× | Below -15% | – |
| 34 | Won Institute of Graduate StudiesPA · Grad cert | $29,420 n=18 | – | $75,122 | 2.55× | Below -54% | – |
| 35 | Southwest Institute of Healing ArtsAZ · Associate | $28,787 n=72 | 85% | $16,000 | 0.56× | Below -22% | Below 2/2 |
| 36 | Pacific College of Health and ScienceCA · Master's | $28,428 n=200 | 28% | $109,746 | 3.86× | Below -62% | Below 2/2 |
| 37 | Pacific College of Health and ScienceIL · Master's | $28,428 n=200 | 28% | $109,746 | 3.86× | Below -58% | Below 2/2 |
| 38 | Pacific College of Health and ScienceNY · Master's | $28,428 n=200 | 28% | $109,746 | 3.86× | Below -60% | Below 2/2 |
| 39 | Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese MedicineNC · Master's | $27,913 n=21 | – | $81,949 | 2.94× | Below -52% | – |
| 40 | Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & AcupunctureAZ · Professional | $25,985 n=17 | – | $92,761 | 3.57× | Below -58% | – |
| 41 | Southern California University of Health SciencesCA · UG cert | $25,591 n=38 | – | $11,400 | 0.45× | Below -33% | – |
| 42 | Virginia University of Integrative MedicineVA · Master's | $24,835 n=17 | – | $38,500 | 1.55× | Below -65% | – |
| 43 | American College of Healthcare SciencesOR · Associate | $24,120 n=66 | 53% 1yr | $29,500 | 1.22× | Below -34% | – |
| 44 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San JuanPR · Master's | $22,632 n=22 | – | $25,000 | 1.10× | Below -19% | – |
| 45 | Atlantic Institute of Oriental MedicineFL · Master's | $20,137 n=39 | – | $61,500 | 3.05× | Below -64% | Below 2/2 |
| 46 | Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical ArtsNC · Master's | $19,737 n=22 | – | $113,632 | 5.76× | Below -66% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $40,325 | 4 |
| Maryland | $39,585 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,633 | 3 |
| California | $37,908 | 6 |
| Illinois | $34,773 | 5 |
| Arizona | $32,574 | 4 |
| Oregon | $31,204 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs in this dataset are Drexel University ($116,187), St Catherine University ($67,910), Sonoran University of Health Sciences ($61,302). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 40 of the 46 Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.