Best colleges for Nutrition Sciences
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Nutrition Sciences by graduate earnings are Texas A&M University - College Station ($40,504), Metropolitan State University of Denver ($37,213) and University of California-Berkeley ($35,161), 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%.
- Texas A&M University - College Station (College Station, TX): $40,504, 156 graduates a year
- Metropolitan State University of Denver (Denver, CO): $37,213, 110 graduates a year
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): $35,161, 126 graduates a year
- San Diego State University (San Diego, CA): $34,878, 84 graduates a year
- Texas Woman's University (Denton, TX): $34,726, 98 graduates a year
Compare 154 U.S. colleges offering Nutrition Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 45 states.
Nutrition Sciences programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,620 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 30.19 and the Dietitians and Nutritionists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Nutrition Sciences programs
The Nutrition Sciences program focuses on the physiological processes of nutrition, exploring how nutrients and other food substances relate to health, growth, and disease. This interdisciplinary field is ideal for students interested in understanding the complex relationship between diet and well-being, preparing them for careers in health and nutrition.
Students in the Nutrition Sciences program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers topics in biology, psychology, and customer service, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to assess nutritional needs and create effective dietary plans.
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 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,504 | 156 | 84% | — | $21,850 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,213 | 110 | 32% | — | $26,750 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,161 | 126 | 93% | — | $16,182 |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,878 | 84 | 76% | — | $18,000 |
| 5 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,726 | 98 | 49% | — | $28,211 |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,512 | 128 | 86% | — | $14,166 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,504 | 55 | 90% | — | $20,500 |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,384 | 97 | 68% | — | $17,250 |
| 9 | University of New Hampshire Durham, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,115 | 62 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,669 | 96 | 85% | — | $22,511 |
| 11 | University of Vermont Burlington, VT Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,389 | 79 | 79% | — | $19,500 |
| 12 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,381 | 115 | 71% | — | $24,625 |
| 13 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,785 | 59 | 67% | — | $24,750 |
| 14 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,676 | 39 | 85% | — | $24,586 |
| 15 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,525 | 46 | 56% | — | $26,656 |
| 16 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,950 | 150 | 68% | — | $23,563 |
| 17 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,096 | 75 | 53% | — | $14,493 |
| 18 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,620 | 51 | 50% | — | $17,137 |
| 19 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,508 | 47 | 95% | $17,613 | $13,750 |
| 20 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,113 | 24 | 54% | — | $23,285 |
| 21 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,759 | 49 | 81% | — | $25,000 |
| 22 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,724 | 141 | 90% | — | $24,710 |
| 23 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,575 | 42 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 24 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,117 | 53 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,673 | 99 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
Specializations within Nutrition Sciences
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 30.19 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 45 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 Nutrition Sciences program can pursue careers in various health-related fields, with an outlook that is faster than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6,200 annual openings, a median wage of $73,850, and typically requires a Bachelor's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Nutrition Sciences
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 30.19.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 30.19 (Nutrition Sciences) maps to 9 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 19-1029 | Biological Scientists, All Other |
| 19-1099 | Life Scientists, All Other |
| 25-1042 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1192 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 29-1031 | Dietitians and Nutritionistsprimary |
| 29-2051 | Dietetic Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Nutrition Sciences 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 is the focus of the Nutrition Sciences program?+
The program studies the physiological processes of nutrition and how they relate to health and disease.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, and communication skills, among others.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work in various health-related fields, focusing on nutrition counseling and dietary planning.
What is the job outlook for nutrition professionals?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with 6,200 annual openings and a median wage of $73,850.
How much do Nutrition Sciences graduates earn?+
Nutrition Sciences graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,620, 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 Nutrition Sciences?+
Nutrition Sciences maps to CIP 30.19 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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