Alternative Medicine graduates earn $40,222 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $20,954 and $62,137. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Alternative Medicine as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Alternative Medicine is a focused area of study within Health. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $40,222 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 98 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 3,431 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$34,324
Median Earnings · 4yr
$40,222
Colleges Offering
98
Graduates / Year
3,431
Avg Net Price / yr
$23,244
How Much Do Alternative Medicine Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Alternative Medicine, a typical graduate earns $40,222, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $20,954 and $62,137, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings in this field tend to be stable early on. Expect the four-year median to closely reflect your long-term starting point.
$40,222
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$42,154
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Alternative Medicine graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.
$20,95425th pct.
$40,222Median
$62,13775th pct.
Is the Cost Worth It?
At median 4-year earnings of $40,222 and an estimated $92,976 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 9.1 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 13 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 3,431 students who complete Alternative Medicine programs each year, the majority (42%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
37%42%
Master's42%
Certificate37%
Bachelor's14%
What Can You Do With an Alternative Medicine Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Alternative Medicine graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Acupuncturists pay the most at $76,040/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. May also use cups, nutritional supplements, therapeutic massage, acupressure, and other alternative health therapies.
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.
Top Colleges for Alternative Medicine
Not sure where to study Alternative Medicine? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Alternative Medicine graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Health Programs
Alternative Medicine is not the only path through Health: 30 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Alternative Medicine program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Alternative Medicine carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.6% over the next decade, with Acupuncturists among the fastest-growing roles.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $40,222 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Licensure often requiredMost roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakevenAt median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 9.1 years.
Alternative Medicine Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Alternative Medicine graduates earn?
$40,222 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $20,954 and $62,137, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Alternative Medicine degree?
$34,324 in the first year out. That grows to $40,222 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Alternative Medicine degree?
Acupuncturists are one path, and it pays a median of $76,040 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Alternative Medicine program take?
Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Alternative Medicine students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.
How many colleges offer Alternative Medicine?
98 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Alternative Medicine degree worth it?
$40,222 median earnings four years out against $23,244 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Alternative Medicine and Health?
Alternative Medicine is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Alternative Medicine-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Alternative Medicine graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Alternative Medicine graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Alternative Medicine graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
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