by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Other Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems covers Alternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical Systems, Other. Any Instructional Program In Alternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical Systems Not Listed Above. Read on to learn the essential details every other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems programs.
In the U.S., other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems is a widely-pursued major, with 107 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems Schools ranking analyzes these 7 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems programs later in this article.
Coursework for Other Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 24 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 49 |
People currently working in careers related to other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 45.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 41.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.8% |
| Master’s degree | 1.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 3,105,142 | 1.0% |
| Orthoptists | 2,932,094 | 4.8% |
| Naturopathic Physicians | 2,656,215 | 6.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,185 |
| 4 years | $30,904 |
| 5 years | $35,897 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $138,809 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | $138,086 |
| Orthoptists | $135,811 |
With 7 different other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems school rankings to help you.
Those considering other alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine | 1,485 |
| Holistic/Integrative Health | 481 |
| Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | 405 |
| Naturopathic Medicine/Naturopathy | 235 |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herbology | 165 |
| Ayurvedic Medicine/Ayurveda | 141 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
