Dietetics & Nutrition graduates earn $55,753 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,535 and $68,442. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Dietetics & Nutrition as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Dietetics & Nutrition is a focused area of study within Health. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $55,753 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 270 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 5,644 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$33,319
Median Earnings · 4yr
$55,753
Colleges Offering
270
Graduates / Year
5,644
Avg Net Price / yr
$16,580
How Much Do Dietetics & Nutrition Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Dietetics & Nutrition, a typical graduate earns $55,753, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $40,535 and $68,442, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $33,319 at one year out to $55,753 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$55,753
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$55,840
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Dietetics & Nutrition graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.
$40,53525th pct.
$55,753Median
$68,44275th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $55,753 and an estimated $66,320 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.
Based on outcomes from 156 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 5,644 students who complete Dietetics & Nutrition programs each year, the majority (48%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
48%37%
Bachelor's48%
Master's37%
Post-Bacc Cert.9%
What Can You Do With a Dietetics & Nutrition Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Dietetics & Nutrition graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Dietitian pays the most at $76,400/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
SpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
Evaluate laboratory tests in preparing nutrition recommendations.
Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.
Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
Top Colleges for Dietetics & Nutrition
Not sure where to study Dietetics & Nutrition? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Dietetics & Nutrition graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Health Programs
Dietetics & Nutrition is not the only path through Health: 30 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Dietetics & Nutrition program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Dietetics & Nutrition shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $55,753 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $33,319 at graduation to $55,753 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +7.7% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMost roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
$55,753 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $40,535 and $68,442, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Dietetics & Nutrition degree?
$33,319 in the first year out. That grows to $55,753 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Dietetics & Nutrition degree?
Dietitian is one path, and it pays a median of $76,400 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Dietetics & Nutrition program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Dietetics & Nutrition bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Dietetics & Nutrition?
270 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Dietetics & Nutrition degree worth it?
$55,753 median earnings four years out against $16,580 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Dietetics & Nutrition and Health?
Dietetics & Nutrition is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Dietetics & Nutrition-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Dietetics & Nutrition graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Dietetics & Nutrition graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Dietetics & Nutrition graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Dietetics & Nutrition graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +5.2% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Dietitian is among the strongest-growth roles at +7.7%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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