Dietetics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Dietetics is a rigorous, science-based discipline focused on optimizing health through evidence-driven nutrition strategies. Students gain expertise in applying nutritional science, behavioral principles, and biomedical knowledge to develop, implement, and evaluate nutrition programs across clinical, community, and institutional environments.
- Human nutrition: Explores the essential roles of macronutrients, micronutrients, and dietary patterns in supporting physiological function and long-term wellness.
- Nutrient metabolism: Investigates how the body processes and utilizes nutrients at the cellular level, including metabolic pathways and their implications for health and disease.
- Nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention: Focuses on using dietary interventions to reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
- Food service management: Covers the operational planning, coordination, and oversight of food production and delivery systems in healthcare, education, and public settings.
- Diet and nutrition analysis and planning: Teaches systematic methods for assessing dietary intake and creating individualized or population-based nutrition plans.
- Food safety and sanitation: Emphasizes protocols for proper storage, handling, and preparation of food to ensure safety and compliance with health regulations.
- Client education and counseling: Develops skills in communicating nutritional information effectively to diverse populations, supporting behavior change and informed decision-making.
- Regulatory and professional standards: Provides familiarity with national guidelines, accreditation requirements, and ethical practices governing the dietetics profession.
Dietetics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Dietetics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Dietetics degrees, including Dietitians and Nutritionists and Dietetic Technicians. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 106,520 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dietitians and Nutritionists 29-1031 | $73,850 | $48,830 - $101,760 | 76,570 | $35.50 |
Dietetic Technicians 29-2051 | $37,040 | $28,280 - $53,440 | 29,950 | $17.81 |
Dietetics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $45,115 in Mississippi to $81,010 in Alaska—a 80% difference. The highest-paying states include Alaska, Wyoming, and Oregon. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 106,520 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Dietetics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Dietetics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Dietetics is found at Florida International University (FIU) (127 graduates), Illinois State University (ISU) (114 graduates), Appalachian State University (App State) (86 graduates), University of North Florida (UNF) (85 graduates), and Missouri State University, Springfield (83 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,844 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
127 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
114 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
86 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
University of North Florida (UNF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
85 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | unf.edu |
Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
83 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
77 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
72 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
63 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
CUNY Lehman College |
Bachelor's
|
61 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
CUNY Bronx Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
58 | Bronx, New York | Public | bcc.cuny.edu |
University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
Marshall University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
Keiser University |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
32 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
Viterbo University |
Master's
|
30 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Private | viterbo.edu |
Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Postbac Cert.
|
28 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
Idaho State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Master's
|
23 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Master's
|
22 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Master's
Other Award
|
22 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
Simmons University |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
21 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Durham, North Carolina | Public | nccu.edu |
Drexel University |
Master's
|
21 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
University of Alaska (UAA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
D'Youville University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Buffalo, New York | Private | dyu.edu |
SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
Lenoir-Rhyne University |
Master's
|
20 | Hickory, North Carolina | Private | lr.edu |
Logan University |
Master's
|
19 | Chesterfield, Missouri | Private | logan.edu |
East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
Northeastern State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | nsuok.edu |
Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
University of Kansas (KU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
18 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
Framingham State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
18 | Framingham, Massachusetts | Public | framingham.edu |
Mount Mary University |
Master's
|
18 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | mtmary.edu |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Master's
|
17 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
Keene State College (KSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Keene, New Hampshire | Public | keene.edu |
Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
Nicholls State University |
Master's
|
15 | Thibodaux, Louisiana | Public | nicholls.edu |
Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
Meredith College |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | meredith.edu |
Western Carolina University (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Public | wcu.edu |
Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
Winthrop University |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | Public | winthrop.edu |
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
Samford University |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
University of Idaho (U of I) |
Master's
|
11 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | San Diego, California | Private | pointloma.edu |
Long Island University (LIU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
Messiah University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Master's
|
10 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Master's
|
10 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Master's
|
9 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
Madonna University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
9 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
Marywood University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Master's
|
9 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Master's
|
9 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Dietetics programs
How much can I earn with a Dietetics degree?
Salaries for Dietetics graduates vary by role and location. Dietitians and Nutritionists earn a median of $73,850 annually, while Dietetic Technicians earn around $37,040. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Alaska average $81,010 compared to $45,115 in Mississippi. Approximately 106,520 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Dietetics programs?
Currently 145 accredited institutions offer Dietetics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Florida International University (FIU) (127 graduates), Illinois State University (ISU) (114 graduates), and Appalachian State University (App State) (86 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Dietetics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,172 in 2010 to a peak of 3,687 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,028 in 2023-24. This represents a 5% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Dietetics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Dietitians and Nutritionists, Dietetic Technicians, . Related occupations employ approximately 106,520 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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