Best colleges for Foods in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Benedictine University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Southern Illinois University - Carbondale award the most Foods degrees and certificates in Illinois: 28, 6 and 1 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 Illinois colleges offer Foods and award 36 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Foods program, officially titled Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, is designed for individuals interested in exploring the multifaceted relationship between food and society. This program falls under the field of Family and…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,474 | 28 | 50% | $23,570 | $26,675 |
Colleges awarding the most Foods degrees in Illinois
Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit | 28 | $26,474 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 1 | Not reported |
| 4 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Dietitians and Nutritionists (SOC 29-1031).
Top skills
What Dietitians and Nutritionists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Foods programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Foods degrees?+
Benedictine University (28 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (6 graduates a year) and Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (1 graduate a year) award the most Foods degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 Illinois colleges offer Foods.
Which Foods program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Benedictine University tops the list at $26,474. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Dietitians and Nutritionists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Dietitians and Nutritionists in Illinois is $77,060 (median $73,520), across about 2,840 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Foods program?+
The Foods program, officially titled Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, is designed for individuals interested in exploring the multifaceted relationship between food and society. This program falls under the field of Family and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Dietitians and Nutritionists?+
The national job outlook is about +5.5% growth with around 6,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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