Best colleges for Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services by graduate earnings are Purdue University ($52,631), Ohio State University ($52,247) and The University of Texas at San Antonio ($49,205), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): $52,631, 53 graduates a year
- Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): $52,247, 33 graduates a year
- The University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, TX): $49,205, 33 graduates a year
- University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH): $48,483, 74 graduates a year
- SUNY Buffalo State University (Buffalo, NY): $46,519, 20 graduates a year
Compare 213 U.S. colleges offering Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,554 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.31 and the Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services programs
The Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services program focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and improve nutritional health. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers as dietitians, nutritionists, or dietetic technicians, where they can make a significant impact on people's health and well-being through nutrition.
Learn more about Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services →
Students in this program will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening, alongside knowledge in biology, psychology, and customer service. Coursework typically covers nutritional assessment, dietary planning, and counseling techniques, preparing graduates to effectively support clients in achieving their health goals.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,631 | 53 | 83% | — | $20,254 |
| 2 | Ohio State University Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,247 | 33 | 88% | — | $22,750 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,205 | 33 | 53% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,483 | 74 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,519 | 20 | 33% | — | $34,940 |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,093 | 26 | 46% | — | $30,769 |
| 7 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,444 | 103 | 65% | — | $18,892 |
| 8 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,834 | 71 | 54% | — | $12,434 |
| 9 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,988 | 47 | 51% | — | $12,000 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,422 | 74 | 62% | — | — |
| 11 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,958 | 41 | 75% | — | $21,000 |
| 12 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,319 | 69 | 73% | — | $22,875 |
| 13 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,934 | 103 | 75% | — | $25,025 |
| 14 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,631 | 97 | 69% | — | $18,369 |
| 15 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,911 | 23 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 16 | Florida International University Miami, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,422 | 122 | 74% | — | $12,499 |
| 17 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,158 | 55 | 86% | — | $23,750 |
| 18 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,224 | 26 | 51% | — | $25,000 |
| 19 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,301 | 46 | 81% | — | $24,750 |
| 20 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,993 | 26 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 21 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,275 | 42 | 72% | — | $22,500 |
| 22 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,900 | 28 | 63% | — | $21,000 |
| 23 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $17,669 | 40 | 81% | — | $26,000 |
| 24 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,771 | 10 | 61% | $35,483 | $52,000 |
| 25 | D'Youville University Buffalo, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,888 | 14 | 67% | $18,846 | $30,750 |
Top 5 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $43,620 | 21 | 70% | $19,552 | — |
| 2 | Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS Public · Certificate Small program | $44,562 | 17 | 33% | — | — |
| 3 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate Small program | $33,554 | 17 | 54% | — | $24,912 |
| 4 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN Public · Certificate Small program | $31,280 | 17 | 81% | — | $9,562 |
| 5 | CUNY Bronx Community College Bronx, NY Public · Associate degree | $25,498 | 39 | 16% | — | $6,000 |
Specializations within Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
5 of the 5 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.31 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Dietetics/CIP 51.3101
Dietitian 2,993 graduates / yr147 institutions46 states - Clinical Nutrition/CIP 51.3102
Nutritionist 904 graduates / yr45 institutions25 states - Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesCIP 51.3199450 graduates / yr22 institutions13 states
- Dietitian AssistantCIP 51.3104partial data406 graduates / yr9 institutions7 states
- Dietetic TechnicianCIP 51.3103160 graduates / yr19 institutions14 states
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1031, Dietitians and Nutritionists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services program can expect a favorable job outlook, with a projected growth rate of 5.5% and approximately 6,200 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is around $73,850, and a typical education requirement is a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.31.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.31 (Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services) maps to 2 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 29-1031 | Dietitians and Nutritionistsprimary |
| 29-2051 | Dietetic Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans, diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
- Incorporate patient cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences and needs in the development of nutrition plans.
- Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with this program?+
Graduates can become dietitians, nutritionists, dietetic technicians, or dietitian assistants.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and nutritional assessment.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.5%.
What level of education is typically required?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in dietetics and clinical nutrition.
How much do Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services graduates earn?+
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,554, College Scorecard (2019); the Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation pays about $77,130 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services?+
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services maps to CIP 51.31 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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