Nutrition Sciences graduates earn $60,053 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 17.9%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Health Specialties Teachers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Nutrition Sciences 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 Interdisciplinary Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Nutrition Sciences is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $60,053 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 169 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 5,514 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$30,113
Median Earnings · 4yr
$60,053
Colleges Offering
169
Graduates / Year
5,514
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,819
How Much Do Nutrition Sciences Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Nutrition Sciences, a typical graduate earns $60,053, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $43,153 and $76,798, 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 $30,113 at one year out to $60,053 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$60,053
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$60,728
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Nutrition Sciences graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$43,15325th pct.
$60,053Median
$76,79875th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $60,053 and an estimated $71,276 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.4 years.
Based on outcomes from 129 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 5,514 students who complete Nutrition Sciences programs each year, the majority (64%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
64%30%
Bachelor's64%
Master's30%
Doctorate3%
What Can You Do With a Nutrition Sciences Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Nutrition Sciences graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Natural Sciences Managers pay the most at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
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.
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingSocial Perceptiveness
Day-to-day responsibilities
Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
Collaborate with producers to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
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 Nutrition Sciences
Not sure where to study Nutrition Sciences? 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 Nutrition Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Nutrition Sciences is not the only path through Interdisciplinary Studies: 38 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 Nutrition Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Nutrition Sciences shows 4 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 $60,053 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $30,113 at graduation to $60,053 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +17.9% over the next decade, with Health Specialties Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 49,500 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
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.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
$60,053 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $43,153 and $76,798, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Nutrition Sciences degree?
$30,113 in the first year out. That grows to $60,053 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 Nutrition Sciences degree?
Natural Sciences Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $167,220 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 Nutrition Sciences program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Nutrition Sciences 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 Nutrition Sciences?
169 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 Nutrition Sciences degree worth it?
$60,053 median earnings four years out against $17,819 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 Nutrition Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Nutrition Sciences is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Nutrition Sciences-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 Nutrition Sciences graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Nutrition Sciences graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Nutrition Sciences graduates?
It can be. At a median salary of $60,053, graduate study in Nutrition Sciences tends to meaningfully raise long-term income, particularly through specialized or professional programs tied to high-demand roles. 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 Nutrition Sciences graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +6.8% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Health Specialties Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +17.9%. 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.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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