Best institutions to study Dietitian Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to assist registered dietitians in planning, preparing and serving meals to individuals with specific dietary needs.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 406 Dietitian Assistant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3104, a specialization of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (CIP 51.31), and leads most directly to the Dietetic Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 29-2051).
About Dietitian Assistant programs
A program that prepares individuals to assist registered dietitians in planning, preparing and serving meals to individuals with specific dietary needs. Includes instruction in equipment use, food preparation, diet regulations, food handling, safety and sanitary standards and administrative techniques and procedures.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dietitian Assistant program, part of the Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services field, prepares individuals to support registered dietitians in meal planning, preparation, and serving for those with specific dietary needs. This program is ideal for students interested in nutrition and health who want to work in various settings, including hospitals, schools, and wellness centers.
Students in the Dietitian Assistant program gain essential skills in food preparation, dietary regulations, food handling, and safety standards. Coursework emphasizes customer service, nutrition assessment, and menu planning to effectively support dietary needs and promote healthy eating habits.
Credentials awarded
What Dietitian Assistant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree234 graduates / yr · 1 institution58%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year138 graduates / yr · 4 institutions34%
- Associate's degree14 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.4%
- Award of less than 12 weeks13 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.7%
Graduates over time
Dietitian Assistant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 192 |
| 2013 | 208 |
| 2014 | 226 |
| 2015 | 179 |
| 2016 | 201 |
| 2017 | 183 |
| 2018 | 219 |
| 2019 | 290 |
| 2020 | 349 |
| 2021 | 637 |
| 2022 | 612 |
| 2023 | 615 |
| 2024 | 615 |
| 2025 | 406 |
Top 9 institutions for Dietitian Assistant, 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 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 329 | 50% | — | $37,107 |
| 2 | Barton County Community College Great Bend, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 33% | — | $44,562 |
| 3 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton Elizabethton, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 81% | — | $31,280 |
| 4 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 13 | 41% | — | — |
| 5 | Suffolk County Community College Selden, NYPublicAssociate's | 12 | 29% | — | — |
| 6 | Stark State College North Canton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 23% | — | — |
| 7 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 5 | 24% | — | — |
| 8 | Middlesex College Edison, NJPublicAssociate's | 2 | 33% | — | — |
| 9 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 23% | — | — |
* 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 7 states
Where Dietitian Assistant graduates come from. Each state links to all Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 329 | Purdue University Global329 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 22 | Sinclair Community College13 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 17 | Barton County Community College17 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 17 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton17 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 14 | Suffolk County Community College12 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 5 | Community College of Allegheny County5 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | Middlesex College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2051, Dietetic Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dietitian Assistant program typically pursue careers as Dietetic Technicians. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.5% and approximately 4,000 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $37,040, with a typical education requirement of an Associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3104
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dietetic Techniciansprimary SOC 29-2051 | $37,640 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~4,000 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Dietitian Assistant 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
- 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.
- Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
- Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
- Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
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 is a Dietitian Assistant?+
A Dietitian Assistant supports registered dietitians in planning and preparing meals for individuals with specific dietary needs.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills in food preparation, dietary regulations, menu planning, and customer service.
What career opportunities are available?+
Graduates can work as Dietetic Technicians, with a median wage of $37,040 and a positive job outlook.
What type of degree do I need?+
Most positions require at least an Associate's degree, although other awards are available.
What is the CIP code for Dietitian Assistant?+
Dietitian Assistant is CIP 51.3104 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 assist registered dietitians in planning, preparing and serving meals to individuals with specific dietary needs. Includes instruction in equipment use, food preparation, diet regulations, food handling, safety and sanitary standards and administrative techniques and procedures.
How many institutions offer Dietitian Assistant programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Dietitian Assistant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 406 credentials in the year. That is 8.3% of all Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services graduates.
How much do Dietitian Assistant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Dietetic Technicians occupation, which Dietitian Assistant most directly leads to, pays a median of $37,640 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services field report median earnings of $37,107 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.
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