
NUNM holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval of an individual professional degree.
The university's naturopathic doctoral program has programmatic accreditation through the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). Applicants considering a Chinese medicine credential should check that specific program's current status with the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), because accreditation attaches to named programs and credentials rather than automatically to every offering in a subject area.
Accreditation is relevant to federal financial-aid eligibility and can matter for further study. It does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular transfer course. Nor does a degree, by itself, establish eligibility to practice: naturopathic and acupuncture licensing rules vary by jurisdiction, so applicants should compare their intended program with the requirements of the state or other jurisdiction where they hope to work.
Admission to NUNM depends on the credential sought. Undergraduate applicants and applicants to a clinical doctorate should not assume they use the same prerequisites, application materials, or review schedule. The university does not operate under an open-admission policy.
Applicants should expect to submit an application and academic transcripts, then check their chosen program's instructions for prerequisite courses, written statements, recommendations, interviews, and any English-language proficiency requirements that apply to them. Professional programs can require substantial prior college coursework in the sciences; meeting a university-wide admissions standard is not a substitute for meeting a program's prerequisites.
NUNM accepts Advanced Placement credit, but how an AP course applies to a degree or professional prerequisite requires an individual evaluation. Applicants should use the current admissions checklist and deadline for their specific credential rather than rely on a general description of undergraduate admissions or assume that SAT or ACT scores are required.
The reported application fee is $50. Applicants should confirm the amount displayed for their program and application method before submitting, since a professional-program application can follow a different process from an undergraduate application.
Anyone who needs a fee waiver should ask admissions about eligibility and the request procedure before paying or submitting the application. An application fee is separate from tuition, required enrollment charges, and any deposit assessed after an admission offer.
Prospective students should not assume that NUNM operates an Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit on its Portland campus. Participation through another college, if available for a particular NUNM student, would require confirmation from both institutions and the relevant ROTC program.
That distinction matters because cross-enrollment is not automatic: course scheduling, host-school agreements, eligibility rules, and degree requirements can affect participation. ROTC scholarships may also carry military service obligations. An applicant considering this route should obtain a written determination from the ROTC host program before treating it as part of an enrollment or financing plan.
NUNM enrolls undergraduate transfer students; federal enrollment figures for 2024-25 record 22 degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates transferring in. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of particular courses toward a NUNM degree are separate decisions.
A transfer applicant should submit transcripts from previous colleges and request a program-specific credit review. The consequential question is not just how many credits transfer, but whether they satisfy required science courses, general education, upper-division work, or prerequisites for a later clinical program. Applicants with prior health-professions coursework should also ask whether courses must meet recency, laboratory, or minimum-grade rules.
Before making an enrollment decision, request an official evaluation that identifies remaining requirements and an estimated path to completion. Credits awarded through AP are possible, but applicants should not assume other forms of prior learning receive the same treatment.
International interests at NUNM should be assessed through the requirements of the individual degree rather than an assumed semester-abroad pathway. Clinical training and tightly sequenced prerequisites can make time away from campus more complicated than in a general undergraduate program.
A student considering an international course, field experience, or independently arranged placement should obtain advance approval for academic credit and, where relevant, clinical hours. The student should also confirm supervision, travel requirements, insurance, and whether existing financial aid can be used. An experience abroad should not be treated as a substitute for a required clinical rotation without written program approval.
Regular application deadline
May 1Application fee
$50Open admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.