American College of Healthcare Sciences
American College of Healthcare Sciences — Online Programs, Tuition & Accreditation
American College of Healthcare Sciences
All programs offered completely via distance education
5005 S. Macadam Ave, Portland, Oregon 97239
Phone: (503) 244-0726
Website: www.achs.edu
Quick Facts
| Type | 4-year (primarily associate's), Private for-profit |
| Accreditation | Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) — accredited since June 2003, next review June 2028 |
| Total Enrolment | 1,052 (762 undergraduate, 290 graduate) |
| Student-to-Faculty Ratio | 27 to 1 |
| Faculty | 21 full-time, 20 part-time |
| Online Programs | Both undergraduate and graduate — 100% of students enrolled exclusively in distance education |
| Awards Offered | Certificates (less than 1 year, 1–2 years), Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree, Doctor's degree (research/scholarship) |
| Carnegie Classification | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools |
| Religious Affiliation | None |
| Federal Financial Aid | Yes — eligible for Pell Grants and Direct Loans |
| Military/Veteran Friendly | Yes — Yellow Ribbon Program, credit for military training, dedicated veteran support, DoD MOU |
| Credit Accepted | Credit for life experiences, Advanced Placement (AP) credits |
| Cohort Default Rate | 0.0% (2021) |
A Note on Accreditation
ACHS is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC is recognised by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA, but it is categorised as a national accreditor rather than a regional/institutional accreditor. Credits from nationally accredited institutions may not transfer to regionally accredited schools, and some employers may not recognise degrees from nationally accredited institutions in the same way as regionally accredited ones. If you plan to transfer credits or pursue further education at a regionally accredited institution, verify transfer credit acceptance with your target school before enrolling.
Tuition & Fees (2024–2025)
| Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | $13,040 per year |
| Graduate Tuition | $11,340 per year |
| Graduate Fees | $2,450 per year |
| Total Estimated Cost — Off Campus | $32,755 per year |
| Total Estimated Cost — Living with Family | $22,506 per year |
A tuition payment plan is available. Figures are sourced from NCES College Navigator — verify directly with the institution before making financial decisions.
Financial Aid & Net Price Calculator →
Financial Aid Snapshot (2023–2024)
| Beginning Students Receiving Any Aid | 92% |
| Beginning Students Receiving Grants | 83% — average award $6,755 |
| Beginning Students Receiving Pell Grants | 83% — average award $6,575 |
| Beginning Students Taking Federal Loans | 75% — average loan $6,286 |
| All Undergrads — Average Pell Grant | $4,145 |
| All Undergrads — Average Federal Loan | $6,261 |
| Average Net Price (2023–2024) | $23,980 |
Average Net Price by Family Income (2023–2024)
| $0 – $30,000 | $22,738 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $22,128 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $23,828 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $26,078 |
| $110,001 and more | $29,923 |
Admissions (Fall 2024)
| Acceptance Rate | 53% (129 applicants, 68 admitted) |
| Enrolled of Admitted | 59% |
| GPA | Required |
| Secondary School Record | Required |
| Personal Statement/Essay | Required |
| English Proficiency Test | Required |
| SAT/ACT | Test optional |
| Recommendations / Work Experience | Not considered |
ACHS is selective for a for-profit online institution, admitting roughly half of applicants. The admissions process emphasises academic record and a personal statement.
Retention & Graduation
| Full-Time Student Retention | 100% (students who began Fall 2023 and returned Fall 2024) |
| Part-Time Student Retention | 100% |
| Overall Graduation Rate (150% time) | 100% (students who began Fall 2018) |
These retention and graduation figures are based on very small cohorts — only 7% of entering students were counted as full-time, first-time in 2024. With such small numbers, a few students can produce 100% or 0% rates. Interpret these figures as indicative but not statistically robust. The majority of ACHS students are part-time (74%) and many are transfer or returning students not captured in these standard measures.
Student Demographics (Fall 2024)
| Undergraduate Attendance | 26% full-time, 74% part-time |
| Gender (Undergraduate) | 94% female, 6% male |
| Age (Undergraduate) | 89% aged 25 and over, 11% aged 24 and under |
| Residency | 95% out-of-state, 2% in-state (Oregon), 2% unknown |
| Graduate Attendance | 39% full-time, 61% part-time |
Online Programs Offered
Health Professions — Alternative & Complementary Medicine
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, General (Certificate, Postgrad Certificate, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's) — 255 total awards conferred in 2023–2024
Health Professions — Health & Wellness
- Health and Wellness, General (Certificate, Postgrad Certificate, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) — 108 total awards conferred
All programmes are offered entirely via distance education. 363 total awards were conferred in 2023–2024 across all levels. The majority of awards (159) were undergraduate certificates. Programmes cover areas including aromatherapy, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, integrative health, and wellness coaching. Programme availability may change — verify current offerings directly with ACHS.
Student Services Available to Online Students
- Academic and career counselling
- Disability services — learn more
- Study abroad opportunities
Military & Veteran Support
| Yellow Ribbon Program | Yes — participant in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program |
| Military Credit | Credit awarded for military training |
| Veteran Support | Dedicated point of contact for veterans, servicemembers, and families |
| DoD Partnership | Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU |
| GI Bill Recipients — Undergraduate (2023–2024) | 96 students — average benefit $7,576 |
| GI Bill Recipients — Graduate (2023–2024) | 41 students — average benefit $8,149 |
| DoD Tuition Assistance — Undergraduate | 5 students — average benefit $1,073 |
| DoD Tuition Assistance — Graduate | 8 students — average benefit $2,219 |
| Veteran Tuition Policies | www.achs.edu/military |
Important Links
| Admissions | www.achs.edu/getting-started-achs |
| Apply Online | contact.achs.edu/achs-enrollment-application |
| Financial Aid | www.achs.edu/financial-aid-achs |
| Military | www.achs.edu/military |
| Disability Services | achs.edu/access-policy |
| Mission & Vision | achs.edu/about-us/mission-vision |
About American College of Healthcare Sciences
The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) is a private, for-profit institution based in Portland, Oregon, that operates entirely online. Founded in 1978, it specialises in holistic health, integrative wellness, and complementary and alternative medicine — a distinctive niche that sets it apart from most other online colleges. ACHS offers programmes from short certificates through to doctoral level across two main subject areas: alternative and complementary medicine (including aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and holistic nutrition) and general health and wellness. The institution is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a national accreditor recognised by the U.S. Department of Education. With 95% of first-time students coming from outside Oregon, ACHS draws students nationally — consistent with its niche focus in a field with few dedicated online programmes. The student body is overwhelmingly female (94%), adult (89% aged 25+), and predominantly part-time (74%), reflecting a population of working professionals adding wellness credentials alongside their careers. ACHS has a notable military and veteran student population, with 137 GI Bill recipients and 13 DoD tuition assistance recipients in 2023–2024.
Community Discussion
Have you attended the American College of Healthcare Sciences or are you considering it? Share your experience or ask questions in our Course & Program Reviews forum.
Information on this page is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator database and the institution's official website. Data reflects the most recently available reporting year. Details may have changed — always verify directly with ACHS before making enrolment or financial decisions. Last updated: April 2026.