Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services graduates earn a median $55,753 four years after finishing — $7,393/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 9.1 years. Federal data pools 144 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 2,845 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services ranks #131 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 36% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Long Beach | CA | $68,578 |
| 2 | San Diego State University | CA | $66,649 |
| 3 | SUNY Oneonta | NY | $64,048 |
| 4 | University of Delaware | DE | $63,799 |
| 5 | Viterbo University | WI | $63,328 |
| 6 | Long Island University | NY | $63,323 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University | TX | $62,457 |
| 8 | University of Florida | FL | $62,145 |
| 9 | University of Rhode Island | RI | $61,079 |
| 10 | D'Youville University | NY | $60,998 |
| 11 | SUNY Buffalo State University | NY | $60,937 |
| 12 | University of Dayton | OH | $60,873 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services pay grow after graduation?
From $52,247 one year out to $55,753 four years out — a $3,506 climb, or 7% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services each year?
About 2,845 bachelor's graduates a year across 144 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.