American College of Healthcare Sciences

About American College of Healthcare Sciences

American College of Healthcare Sciences is a specialized distance-education institution rather than a residential Portland college. Its administrative address is on South Macadam Avenue in Portland, but students participate through an online learning environment. This distinction matters when comparing ACHS with institutions offering laboratories, residence halls, athletics, or a conventional campus community. The institution traces its founding to New Zealand in 1978 and says it began operating in the United States in 1989. It adopted its present name in 2009, replacing Australasian College of Health Sciences. ACHS reports accreditation by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, most recently reaffirmed in 2023, and lists 2028 as its next scheduled review. It also identifies approval from Oregon’s Office of Degree Authorization. ACHS concentrates on a narrow group of related fields: integrative health, holistic nutrition, herbal medicine, and aromatherapy. Alongside degrees, it offers certificates, diplomas, micro-credentials, continuing education, and individual courses. Prospective students should therefore verify that the specific award they are considering is a degree, rather than assuming every listed program carries the same academic or professional status. The institution’s online model is designed for study from different locations and includes structured course calendars rather than entirely self-paced enrollment. The 2026 schedule shows undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses, providing direct evidence that the college remains operational and is accepting students.

Undergraduate degree applicants must hold a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent. ACHS requires an application and admissions assessment, official educational records, and government-issued photo identification. Applicants with previous college study may submit postsecondary transcripts for transfer-credit evaluation. The admissions committee communicates the decision after the required materials have been reviewed. Master’s applicants must present a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Doctoral applicants must document a master’s degree or higher. Graduate applicants also complete the institutional application and admissions assessment and provide official transcripts. Requirements can differ for particular programs, so the current program page and catalog should be checked before applying. International applicants follow the relevant academic-level requirements and must arrange evaluation of foreign transcripts when required. Records not in English must be translated and evaluated through an appropriate credential-evaluation process. Applicants whose native language is not English and who lack qualifying prior English-medium education must demonstrate proficiency. ACHS currently lists common undergraduate thresholds of TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 6.0 and graduate thresholds of TOEFL iBT 71 or IELTS 6.5, alongside several alternative routes. The institution publishes multiple starts rather than one universal annual deadline. Applicants should use the academic calendar for the intended session and allow time for official transcripts, foreign evaluation, financial arrangements, and transfer-credit review.

ACHS offers a focused curriculum organized around aromatherapy, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, and integrative health, with supporting science, general-education, research, health-education, and wellness-business coursework. Its program directory lists associate and bachelor’s degrees at the undergraduate level; master’s programs include Integrative Health Sciences, Holistic Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Health and Wellness, and Aromatherapy. The college also offers a 60-credit Doctor of Science in Integrative Health. Certificates, diplomas, micro-credentials, continuing education, and single-course study sit alongside these degrees. Instruction takes place online through Canvas. ACHS describes weekly modules, written and recorded lectures, videos, podcasts, interactive activities, e-textbooks, discussion forums, and optional live communication tools. Courses can include papers, quizzes, examinations, collaborative work, and instructor feedback. Some final examinations are remotely proctored. New students complete an online orientation, and access requires a suitable computer, webcam, microphone, Chrome browser, and reliable internet. The official Fall 2026 schedule demonstrates the curriculum’s applied and scientific mix. Examples include biology, chemistry, aromatherapy chemistry, nutrition biochemistry, pharmacognosy, toxicology, research assessment, biostatistics, health promotion, and dissertation courses. Availability varies by term and enrollment, so a program title alone does not establish that every required course starts in every session. Students considering clinical or regulated work should distinguish academic education from legal authority to practice. They should review the credentialing information for their intended occupation and confirm requirements with the relevant state or national body before enrolling.

Key Highlights

• Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, with the next institutional review listed for 2028
• Founded in 1978 and operating in the United States since 1989
• Specializes in online integrative-health and wellness education
• Official Fall 2026 schedules list undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses

Student Life & Environment

Student life at ACHS is primarily virtual. There is no evidence of a residential campus experience, so community participation depends on online classrooms, the Student Center, peer interaction, and scheduled support rather than residence halls, dining, athletics, or campus clubs. This can work well for students balancing study with employment or family responsibilities, although those seeking daily in-person social life should account for the difference. The online classroom provides asynchronous discussion forums and may include optional synchronous lectures or chats. ACHS also operates a Peer Support Center where peer mentors assist with assignment planning, writing, APA style, research strategies, case studies, and technology. The broader Student Services team advises on registration, course sequencing, proctored examinations, graduation, time management, and barriers affecting academic progress. Current support information also identifies 24-hour Canvas technical assistance, online library resources, librarian support, and virtual health and well-being services. TimelyCare offerings described by ACHS include scheduled counseling, health coaching, referrals for psychiatric services when appropriate, and virtual group sessions such as meditation and yoga. Service availability and eligibility should be confirmed at enrollment. Because participation is technology-dependent, students need dependable internet and a computer that meets the institution’s requirements; phones and tablets may not support every activity.

Location & Surroundings

ACHS lists its headquarters at 5005 South Macadam Avenue in Portland, Oregon. For applicants, however, Portland should be understood as the institution’s administrative base rather than the setting for a conventional campus experience. ACHS describes its academic programs as fully online, and its technology guidance assumes students will participate from home or another location with reliable internet. This structure largely removes relocation and commuting from the enrollment decision. Students outside Oregon can access coursework remotely, subject to the college’s state-authorization rules and any restrictions affecting their location or chosen field. International students likewise study online rather than relocating to Portland; ACHS does not describe sponsorship of a residential experience on its international admissions page. The location decision is therefore mainly about authorization, time zone, technology, and professional recognition. Administrative offices use Pacific Time, while students may complete asynchronous work elsewhere. Before enrolling, applicants should verify that ACHS can serve students in their state or country and that the intended credential meets any local employment, practice, or professional-registration requirements.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For courses beginning July 1, 2026, ACHS publishes undergraduate tuition of $435 per semester credit for degree and most other undergraduate programs; the separate applied-certificate rate is $170 per credit. Graduate tuition is $665 per credit, and Doctor of Science tuition is $735 per credit. The institution estimates minimum 2026–2027 annual degree tuition of $10,440 for undergraduates completing 24 credits, $11,970 for master’s students completing 18 credits, and $11,760 for doctoral students completing 16 credits. These figures are tuition estimates, not complete budgets. ACHS states that tuition excludes registration charges, textbooks, supplementary materials, course packs or laboratory kits where applicable, and shipping. A $200 program registration fee is listed. Actual cost depends on course selection, pace, accepted transfer credit, and materials. Because programs are online, ACHS does not present institutional room and board as a campus charge; students still need to budget for their own housing, food, computer, and internet. Funding options described by ACHS include federal student aid for eligible students, military and employer assistance, semester payments, and monthly payment plans. International students generally are not eligible for U.S. federal aid, and ACHS says it does not currently offer scholarships specifically for international students. Career support expanded in April 2026 with Handshake access for current students and alumni, including job and internship listings, employer connections, profiles, résumé help, and job-search resources. These services do not guarantee employment, earnings, certification, or licensure. Applicants should evaluate the exact program against the qualifications required for their intended occupation and jurisdiction.