Best institutions to study Human Nutrition
A program that focuses on the relationships between food consumption and human development and health.
49 U.S. institutions graduated 1,129 Human Nutrition students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 19.0504, a specialization of Foods (CIP 19.05), and leads most directly to the Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation (BLS SOC 29-1031).
About Human Nutrition programs
A program that focuses on the relationships between food consumption and human development and health. Includes instruction in the cellular and molecular processes of food processing in the human body, related metabolic processes, the relationship of food and nutrition to disease, and nutritional needs across the life span.
See also: 51.3102 - Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist., 30.1901 - Nutrition Sciences.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Human Nutrition program, under the broader field of Foods, explores the vital connections between food consumption, human development, and health. This program is designed for students interested in understanding how nutrition impacts well-being across the lifespan, focusing on cellular and molecular processes related to food processing in the human body. Ideal for those passionate about health and wellness, the program prepares students for careers in nutrition and dietetics. It equips them with the knowledge to assess dietary needs and develop personalized nutrition plans, making it a great fit for individuals looking to make a positive impact on people's lives through nutrition education and counseling.
Students in the Human Nutrition program gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers vital knowledge areas such as biology, psychology, and customer service, preparing graduates to evaluate nutritional needs and provide tailored dietary recommendations.
Credentials awarded
What Human Nutrition graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree585 graduates / yr · 25 institutions52%
- Bachelor's degree491 graduates / yr · 23 institutions44%
- Associate's degree33 graduates / yr · 8 institutions2.9%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate17 graduates / yr · 6 institutions1.5%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Human Nutrition completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 968 |
| 2013 | 1,090 |
| 2014 | 1,134 |
| 2015 | 1,036 |
| 2016 | 1,104 |
| 2017 | 904 |
| 2018 | 835 |
| 2019 | 1,039 |
| 2020 | 1,075 |
| 2021 | 1,188 |
| 2022 | 1,188 |
| 2023 | 1,097 |
| 2024 | 1,086 |
| 2025 | 1,129 |
Top 49 institutions for Human Nutrition, 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 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 203 | 73% | — | $37,836 |
| 2 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 138 | 65% | — | $27,648 |
| 3 | University of New England Biddeford, MEPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 74 | 68% | $34,673 | — |
| 4 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 61 | 88% | — | $34,540 |
| 5 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 47 | 41% | $25,149 | — |
| 6 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UTPublicBachelor's | 46 | 61% | — | $20,693 |
| 7 | Bastyr University Kenmore, WAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 46 | — | — | — |
| 8 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 39 | 68% | — | — |
| 9 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 37 | 43% | $21,535 | — |
| 10 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 36 | 80% | $35,682 | — |
| 11 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PAPublicMaster's | 33 | 71% | — | — |
| 12 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicBachelor's | 30 | 46% | — | $28,714 |
| 13 | Winthrop University Rock Hill, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 27 | 57% | — | — |
| 14 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicMaster's | 25 | 86% | — | — |
| 15 | Meredith College Raleigh, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 22 | 70% | $19,552 | — |
| 16 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicMaster's | 21 | 55% | — | $36,601 |
| 17 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 18 | 83% | — | — |
| 18 | Merrimack College North Andover, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | 70% | $33,877 | — |
| 19 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 16 | 87% | $27,976 | — |
| 20 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicMaster's | 16 | 62% | — | — |
| 21 | Johnson & Wales University - Online Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 16 | 0% | $21,981 | $32,586 |
| 22 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 23 | Utica University Utica, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 14 | 56% | $20,237 | — |
| 24 | Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TXPublicBachelor's | 13 | 43% | — | — |
| 25 | Oregon Health & Science University Portland, ORPublicMaster's | 10 | — | — | — |
| 26 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 10 | 59% | — | — |
| 27 | Life University Marietta, GAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 9 | 38% | $30,667 | — |
| 28 | Schenectady County Community College Schenectady, NYPublicAssociate's | 9 | 32% | — | — |
| 29 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 84% | $28,851 | $31,598 |
| 30 | Cedar Crest College Allentown, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 60% | $22,721 | — |
| 31 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZPublicAssociate's | 7 | 16% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor's | 6 | 85% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RIPublicBachelor's | 6 | 73% | — | — |
| 34 | Chandler - Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZPublicAssociate's | 6 | 30% | — | — |
| 35 | Lamar University Beaumont, TXPublicBachelor's | 5 | 37% | — | — |
| 36 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZPublicAssociate's | 4 | 14% | — | — |
| 37 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MOPublicMaster's | 4 | 54% | — | — |
| 38 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 62% | $20,686 | — |
| 39 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicMaster's | 3 | 46% | — | — |
| 40 | Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 59% | $18,325 | — |
| 41 | Paradise Valley Community College Phoenix, AZPublicAssociate's | 3 | 19% | — | — |
| 42 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | — | — | — |
| 43 | Simmons University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 72% | $24,848 | — |
| 44 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 51% | — | — |
| 45 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZPublicAssociate's | 2 | 32% | — | — |
| 46 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZPublicAssociate's | 1 | 16% | — | — |
| 47 | South Mountain Community College Phoenix, AZPublicAssociate's | 1 | 16% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 49 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, NDPublicBachelor's | 1 | 60% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Foods field (CIP 19.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 25 states
Where Human Nutrition graduates come from. Each state links to all Foods programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1031, Dietitians and Nutritionists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Human Nutrition program can pursue careers as Dietitians and Nutritionists, with a favorable job outlook projected to grow by 5.5%. The field offers approximately 6,200 annual openings, with a median wage of $73,850. A typical entry-level position requires at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 19.0504
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 |
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1192 | $75,870 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~200 | Doctoral or professional 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 Human Nutrition 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 Foods specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Foods (CIP 19.05).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Dietitian, Nutritionist, or a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a projected growth of 5.5% and around 6,200 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Human Nutrition?+
Human Nutrition is CIP 19.0504 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Foods (CIP 19.05). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the relationships between food consumption and human development and health. Includes instruction in the cellular and molecular processes of food processing in the human body, related metabolic processes, the relationship of food and nutrition to disease, and nutritional needs across the life span.
How many institutions offer Human Nutrition programs?+
49 U.S. institutions reported Human Nutrition graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states, awarding 1,129 credentials in the year. That is 30.9% of all Foods graduates.
How much do Human Nutrition graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation, which Human Nutrition most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,400 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Foods field report median earnings of $32,586 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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