Best institutions to study Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist
A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles of dietetics and the biomedical and nutrition sciences to design and manage effective nutrition programs as part of clinical treatment and therapy programs, and to manage health care facility food services.
45 U.S. institutions graduated 904 Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3102, a specialization of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (CIP 51.31), and leads most directly to the Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation (BLS SOC 29-1031).
About Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles of dietetics and the biomedical and nutrition sciences to design and manage effective nutrition programs as part of clinical treatment and therapy programs, and to manage health care facility food services. Includes instruction in human nutrition, nutrient metabolism, the role of foods and nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition as a treatment regime, planning and directing hospital food service programs, diet and nutrition analysis and planning, supervision of food storage and preparation, special diets, client education, and professional standards and regulations.
See also: 19.0504 - Human Nutrition., 30.1901 - Nutrition Sciences.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist program prepares individuals to apply dietetic principles and biomedical sciences to design and manage nutrition programs within clinical settings. This program is ideal for those interested in improving health outcomes through nutrition and dietary management in healthcare facilities.
Students in this program gain knowledge in human nutrition, nutrient metabolism, and the role of diet in health promotion and disease prevention. Coursework includes dietary analysis, planning special diets, and client education, equipping graduates with essential skills for effective nutritional counseling.
Credentials awarded
What Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree706 graduates / yr · 32 institutions78%
- Bachelor's degree89 graduates / yr · 8 institutions9.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship54 graduates / yr · 4 institutions6.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate42 graduates / yr · 5 institutions4.6%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.6%
- Post-master's certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 309 |
| 2013 | 364 |
| 2014 | 496 |
| 2015 | 686 |
| 2016 | 681 |
| 2017 | 815 |
| 2018 | 915 |
| 2019 | 1,026 |
| 2020 | 982 |
| 2021 | 1,011 |
| 2022 | 1,124 |
| 2023 | 1,052 |
| 2024 | 919 |
| 2025 | 904 |
Top 45 institutions for Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Western States Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralMaster's | 128 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Logan University Chesterfield, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 66 | 22% | $17,906 | — |
| 3 | Sonoran University of Health Sciences Tempe, AZPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 65 | — | — | — |
| 4 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.Master's | 64 | 64% | — | — |
| 5 | Northeast College of Health Sciences Seneca Falls, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 51 | — | — | — |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster's | 44 | 90% | — | — |
| 7 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 32 | 84% | — | — |
| 8 | Parker University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 32 | 74% | $27,144 | — |
| 9 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicBachelor's | 28 | 86% | — | $29,158 |
| 10 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 26 | 64% | — | $23,993 |
| 11 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster's | 25 | 76% | — | — |
| 12 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicMaster's | 23 | 67% | — | — |
| 13 | Marywood University Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 22 | 72% | $21,769 | — |
| 14 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicMaster's | 19 | 57% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TXPublicMaster's | 19 | — | — | — |
| 16 | Northwestern Health Sciences University Bloomington, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | 0% | $29,794 | — |
| 17 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 16 | 68% | — | — |
| 18 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FLPublicDoctoral | 15 | 69% | — | $30,631 |
| 19 | Meredith College Raleigh, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 15 | 70% | $19,552 | $43,620 |
| 20 | National University of Natural Medicine Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | — | — | — |
| 21 | The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Galveston, TXPublicMaster's | 15 | — | — | — |
| 22 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NYPublicMaster's | 14 | 69% | — | — |
| 23 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublicMaster's | 13 | 53% | — | — |
| 24 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, ILPublicBachelor's | 12 | 57% | — | — |
| 25 | University of the Pacific Stockton, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 69% | $23,964 | — |
| 26 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 11 | — | — | — |
| 27 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, NDPublicMaster's | 11 | 60% | — | — |
| 28 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 11 | 75% | — | — |
| 29 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 61% | $35,483 | $49,771 |
| 30 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 31 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster's | 9 | 75% | — | — |
| 32 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PAPublicBachelor's | 9 | 54% | — | — |
| 33 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NYPublicBachelor's | 6 | 59% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicBachelor's | 6 | 52% | — | $47,242 |
| 35 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CTPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 5 | 84% | $36,845 | — |
| 36 | Bluffton University Bluffton, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 53% | $17,609 | — |
| 37 | Immaculata University Immaculata, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 71% | $26,941 | — |
| 38 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | — | — | — |
| 39 | Adelphi University Garden City, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 67% | $27,326 | — |
| 40 | Long Island University Brookville, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 57% | $24,639 | — |
| 41 | McNeese State University Lake Charles, LAPublicMaster's | 2 | 47% | — | — |
| 42 | Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 61% | $23,425 | — |
| 43 | University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | — | — | — |
| 44 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 45 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services field (CIP 51.31) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 25 states
Where Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist graduates come from. Each state links to all Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1031, Dietitians and Nutritionists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist program primarily pursue careers as Dietitians and Nutritionists. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 5.5% and approximately 6,200 annual openings. The median wage for this profession is $73,850, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3102
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dietitians and Nutritionistsprimary SOC 29-1031 | $76,400 | +5.5% Faster than average | ~6,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (CIP 51.31).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Bachelor's degree, Doctor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and monitoring.
What are the primary tasks of a nutritionist?+
Nutritionists assess nutritional needs, develop dietary plans, and provide counseling on healthy eating habits.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 45 colleges offering the Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist program in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist?+
Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist is CIP 51.3102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (CIP 51.31). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles of dietetics and the biomedical and nutrition sciences to design and manage effective nutrition programs as part of clinical treatment and therapy programs, and to manage health care facility food services. Includes instruction in human nutrition, nutrient metabolism, the role of foods and nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition as a treatment regime, planning and directing hospital food service programs, diet and nutrition analysis and planning, supervision of food storage and preparation, special diets, client education, and professional standards and regulations.
How many institutions offer Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist programs?+
45 U.S. institutions reported Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states, awarding 904 credentials in the year. That is 18.4% of all Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services graduates.
How much do Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation, which Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,400 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services field report median earnings of $43,620 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card