Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 32 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems pays
Career outlook for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates
The job market for the occupations Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other | 41,700 | +3.6% | $64,030 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other | 41,300 | +2.0% | $113,730 | Master's degree |
| Acupuncturists | 15,300 | +6.8% | $78,140 | Master's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems vs similar majors
How Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems stacks up against the closest fields in Health Professions & Nursing on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems Health Professions & Nursing · this major | Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | Medicine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 6 F | 80 A | 80 A | 80 A |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $37,846 | $226,546 | $214,065 | $162,555 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $30,679 | $212,530 | $166,304 | $65,892 |
| ROI vs cost | -165% | +1,129% | +1,565% | +708% |
| Typical debt | $104,050 | $207,643 | $81,076 | $201,913 |
| Colleges offering it | 32 | 33 | 6 | 155 |
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | Master's | $68,139 | $175,111 | +94% | Strong return |
| 2 | Pacific College of Health and Science New York, NY | Certificate | $29,862 | $109,746 | -157% | Poor return |
| 3 | Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier, CA | Certificate | $33,847 | — | -161% | Poor return |
| 4 | Pacific College of Health and Science San Diego, CA | Certificate | $29,862 | $109,746 | -161% | Poor return |
| 5 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ | Associate's | $37,483 | $31,375 | -202% | Poor return |
| 6 | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ | Certificate | $36,429 | $16,000 | -272% | Poor return |
| 7 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Gurabo, PR | Master's | $27,057 | $243,668 | -274% | Poor return |
| 8 | Everglades University Boca Raton, FL | Associate's | $32,686 | $41,749 | -276% | Poor return |
| 9 | Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier, CA | Certificate | $27,532 | $11,400 | -449% | Poor return |
| 10 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO | Associate's | $30,727 | $20,698 | -474% | Poor return |
| 11 | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ | Certificate | $27,484 | $7,917 | -475% | Poor return |
| 12 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO | Certificate | $30,132 | $19,249 | -842% | Poor return |
| 13 | Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, IL | Certificate | $29,862 | $109,746 | — | Not enough data |
| 14 | New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Mineola, NY | Certificate | $48,590 | $28,384 | — | Not enough data |
| 15 | Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine Fort Lauderdale, FL | Certificate | $31,204 | $61,500 | — | Not enough data |
| 16 | Florida College of Integrative Medicine Orlando, FL | Certificate | $51,543 | $61,500 | — | Not enough data |
| 17 | Texas Health and Science University Austin, TX | Certificate | $23,987 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 18 | New York College of Health Professions Syosset, NY | Certificate | $33,807 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 19 | Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Certificate | $47,201 | $102,806 | — | Not enough data |
| 20 | Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine Racine, WI | Professional | $38,150 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 21 | Colorado Chinese Medicine University Denver, CO | Certificate | $34,317 | $92,815 | — | Not enough data |
| 22 | Bastyr University Kenmore, WA | Master's | $48,855 | $300,530 | — | Not enough data |
| 23 | National University of Natural Medicine Portland, OR | Doctoral | $43,856 | $263,594 | — | Not enough data |
| 24 | National University of Health Sciences Lombard, IL | Master's | $66,409 | $203,837 | — | Not enough data |
| 25 | National University of Health Sciences Lombard, IL | Certificate | $28,724 | $133,129 | — | Not enough data |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.