National University of Natural Medicine

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit, four-year institution accredited by NWCCU
• Founded in Portland in 1956 and renamed National University of Natural Medicine in 2016
• Specialized primarily in natural, integrative, and whole-person health education
• Uses a quarter-based academic calendar

Student Life & Environment

Student life at NUNM reflects its small, specialized health-education community. The university’s Office of Student Life supports counseling access, health-insurance information, lockers, academic-status processes, grievances, student clubs, and student government. Student Services also connects students with registration information, financial aid, scholarships, the library, academic policies, and career development. Clubs and organizations tend to align with students’ academic and professional interests. The university lists examples involving herbal knowledge, homeopathy, movement, mental health, oncology, gynecology, geriatrics, and business development, alongside affinity and recreational groups. NUNM cautions that active clubs change from year to year, so the published examples should be treated as potential rather than guaranteed opportunities for 2026–2027. Students can also participate in student government and campus events. NUNM does not provide on-campus housing. Students arrange accommodation in Portland’s rental market, and the university maintains housing notices and points admitted students toward external search resources. This makes commuting, neighborhood selection, and rent part of the enrollment decision. Prospective students should budget for deposits and transportation and begin searching early, especially if they want to live near the downtown campus.

Location & Surroundings

NUNM is located in Portland, Oregon, near the city’s central area and the Willamette River. The university describes its campus as just south of downtown’s central core, with access from major interstate routes, city streets, bicycle routes, buses, and MAX light-rail lines. Applicants should verify the location of their particular classes or clinical assignments because university and health-center activities may use more than one site. The urban location gives students access to Portland’s healthcare organizations, cultural amenities, food scene, parks, and regional outdoor recreation. It also creates practical tradeoffs. NUNM has no residence halls, and students must choose among central neighborhoods, more distant Portland districts, and suburbs. Housing closer to downtown can reduce travel time but may cost more, while lower-cost options farther away can mean a longer commute. Students planning to drive should not assume that parking will always be convenient or included. Public transportation and cycling may be realistic alternatives for reaching campus. When comparing housing, applicants should evaluate the full trip to campus and any clinical placement sites rather than considering rent alone.

Costs & Career Outcomes

NUNM publishes program-by-program cost tables, and costs vary substantially by award, enrollment load, and delivery format. Its tuition page states that the displayed 2026–2027 figures are estimates based on 2025–2026 tuition and fees and anticipated 2026–2027 rates; they remain subject to change. Applicants should therefore request a current individualized estimate and distinguish tuition from mandatory fees, books, clinical equipment, transportation, living expenses, and professional examinations. For the 2026–2027 award year, NUNM’s cost-of-attendance assumptions include $1,750 per month for rent, $450 per month for food and utilities, $316 per month for transportation, and $400 per month for personal expenses. Books and supplies are estimated at $235 per term. These are budgeting allowances, not charges paid to NUNM, and actual Portland living costs will depend on housing and lifestyle. No on-campus room-and-board package is available. Financial support may include federal or state aid for eligible students and institutional scholarships. The Fall 2026 incoming-student scholarship priority deadline was March 2, 2026 and has passed; future applicants should wait for the applicable cycle’s materials. Career planning must be program-specific. NUNM’s Center for Career Development offers current students and alumni advising, résumé and CV review, interview preparation, networking guidance, and job or internship search support. Clinical-program applicants should investigate licensure before committing: legal recognition and scope of practice for naturopathic physicians and acupuncture professionals vary by jurisdiction, and graduation alone does not authorize practice everywhere.