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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)

3,028
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
145
Universities & Colleges
2
Career Pathways

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

Salary Comparison

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 Admissions Location Control Website
Florida International University (FIU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
127 SAT: 1060-1250
ACT: 20-26
Miami, Florida Public fiu.edu
Illinois State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
114 SAT: 1010-1230
ACT: 22-27
Normal, Illinois Public illinoisstate.edu
Appalachian State University (App State)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
86 SAT: 1100-1280
ACT: 21-27
Boone, North Carolina Public appstate.edu
University of North Florida (UNF)
Bachelor's
Master's
85 SAT: 990-1210
ACT: 20-26
Jacksonville, Florida Public unf.edu
Missouri State University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
83 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 19-25
Springfield, Missouri Public missouristate.edu
Utah State University (USU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
77 SAT: 1060-1300
ACT: 20-28
Logan, Utah Public usu.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Bachelor's
Master's
74 SAT: 1120-1340
ACT: 25-32
Chicago, Illinois Public uic.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)
Bachelor's
Master's
72 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-29
Columbia, Missouri Public missouri.edu
Kansas State University (K‑State)
Bachelor's
69 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 20-27
Manhattan, Kansas Public k-state.edu
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
63 SAT: 1100-1270
ACT: 24-28
West Chester, Pennsylvania Public wcupa.edu
CUNY Lehman College
Bachelor's
61 SAT: 860-1220 Bronx, New York Public lehman.edu
CUNY Bronx Community College (BCC)
Associate's
58 N/A Bronx, New York Public bcc.cuny.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
56 SAT: 1150-1360
ACT: 24-29
Cincinnati, Ohio Public uc.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)
Bachelor's
Master's
49 SAT: 1080-1290
ACT: 21-28
Lexington, Kentucky Public uky.edu
Iowa State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
Master's
46 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 21-28
Ames, Iowa Public iastate.edu
Marshall University
Bachelor's
Master's
44 SAT: 890-1130
ACT: 18-24
Huntington, West Virginia Public marshall.edu
Purdue University (PU)
Bachelor's
43 SAT: 1190-1460
ACT: 27-34
West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdue.edu
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
Bachelor's
41 SAT: 1020-1210
ACT: 21-29
University, Mississippi Public olemiss.edu
Rowan University
Bachelor's
Master's
40 SAT: 1100-1310
ACT: 26-30
Glassboro, New Jersey Public rowan.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Bachelor's
39 SAT: 1290-1450
ACT: 28-32
Provo, Utah Private byu.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Bachelor's
Master's
38 N/A Flagstaff, Arizona Public nau.edu
University of Northern Colorado (UNCO)
Bachelor's
Master's
38 SAT: 970-1180
ACT: 17-26
Greeley, Colorado Public unco.edu
University of Delaware (UD)
Bachelor's
Master's
38 SAT: 1200-1360
ACT: 27-31
Newark, Delaware Public udel.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
37 SAT: 1150-1350
ACT: 26-31
East Lansing, Michigan Public msu.edu
Keiser University
Bachelor's
36 N/A Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private keiseruniversity.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Bachelor's
36 SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 22-28
Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
CUNY Hunter College
Bachelor's
Master's
34 SAT: 1210-1470 New York, New York Public hunter.cuny.edu
The University of Texas (UTSA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
32 SAT: 1000-1200
ACT: 19-26
San Antonio, Texas Public utsa.edu
Northern Illinois University (NIU)
Bachelor's
Master's
31 N/A Dekalb, Illinois Public niu.edu
Viterbo University
Master's
30 SAT: 1040-1380
ACT: 22-27
La Crosse, Wisconsin Private viterbo.edu
Abilene Christian University (ACU)
Bachelor's
Master's
29 SAT: 1060-1290
ACT: 22-28
Abilene, Texas Private acu.edu
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)
Postbac Cert.
28 SAT: 880-1110
ACT: 17-23
Denver, Colorado Public msudenver.edu
University of Rhode Island (URI)
Bachelor's
28 SAT: 1030-1270
ACT: 26-31
Kingston, Rhode Island Public web.uri.edu
Georgia State University
Bachelor's
27 SAT: 1040-1280
ACT: 19-26
Atlanta, Georgia Public gsu.edu
Idaho State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
Master's
26 N/A Pocatello, Idaho Public isu.edu
Ball State University (BSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
26 SAT: 1080-1250
ACT: 25-30
Muncie, Indiana Public bsu.edu
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO)
Bachelor's
Master's
25 SAT: 850-1030
ACT: 16-21
Cape Girardeau, Missouri Public semo.edu
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Bachelor's
Master's
25 ACT: 19-26 Menomonie, Wisconsin Public uwstout.edu
CUNY Queens College
Bachelor's
24 SAT: 1100-1320 Queens, New York Public qc.cuny.edu
University of Oklahoma (OUHSC)
Master's
23 N/A Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Public ouhsc.edu
Loma Linda University (LLU)
Master's
22 N/A Loma Linda, California Private llu.edu
University of Florida (UF)
Bachelor's
22 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 28-33
Gainesville, Florida Public ufl.edu
Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
Bachelor's
Master's
22 SAT: 890-1110 Charleston, Illinois Public eiu.edu
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis)
Master's
Other Award
22 SAT: 1040-1230
ACT: 21-28
Indianapolis, Indiana Public indianapolis.iu.edu
Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech)
Bachelor's
Master's
22 SAT: 1045-1290
ACT: 21-27
Ruston, Louisiana Public latech.edu
Simmons University
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
21 SAT: 1230-1390
ACT: 26-31
Boston, Massachusetts Private simmons.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
21 SAT: 910-1170
ACT: 18-26
Ypsilanti, Michigan Public emich.edu
North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
Bachelor's
Master's
21 SAT: 980-1100
ACT: 17-18
Durham, North Carolina Public nccu.edu
Drexel University
Master's
21 SAT: 1230-1430
ACT: 27-33
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private drexel.edu
University of Vermont (UVM)
Bachelor's
Master's
21 SAT: 1250-1420
ACT: 29-32
Burlington, Vermont Public uvm.edu
University of Alaska (UAA)
Bachelor's
Master's
20 N/A Anchorage, Alaska Public uaa.alaska.edu
D'Youville University
Bachelor's
Master's
20 SAT: 885-1190 Buffalo, New York Private dyu.edu
SUNY Buffalo State University
Bachelor's
Master's
20 SAT: 960-1190 Buffalo, New York Public suny.buffalostate.edu
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Master's
20 N/A Hickory, North Carolina Private lr.edu
Logan University
Master's
19 SAT: 931-1038
ACT: 16-24
Chesterfield, Missouri Private logan.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)
Bachelor's
19 SAT: 1050-1200
ACT: 20-26
Greenville, North Carolina Public ecu.edu
University of Dayton (UD)
Bachelor's
Master's
19 SAT: 1195-1370
ACT: 26-31
Dayton, Ohio Private udayton.edu
Northeastern State University (NSU)
Bachelor's
19 SAT: 920-1145
ACT: 18-23
Tahlequah, Oklahoma Public nsuok.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
18 SAT: 1240-1390
ACT: 27-31
Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
University of Kansas (KU)
Postbac Cert.
18 SAT: 1050-1290
ACT: 21-27
Lawrence, Kansas Public ku.edu
Framingham State University (FSU)
Master's
18 SAT: 1070-1255 Framingham, Massachusetts Public framingham.edu
Mount Mary University
Master's
18 ACT: 16-24 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Private mtmary.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Master's
17 SAT: 1240-1420
ACT: 27-32
Blacksburg, Virginia Public vt.edu
Murray State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
16 SAT: 950-1190
ACT: 19-26
Murray, Kentucky Public murraystate.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
16 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 20-27
Kalamazoo, Michigan Public wmich.edu
University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
Bachelor's
16 ACT: 19-27 Hattiesburg, Mississippi Public usm.edu
Northwest Missouri State University
Bachelor's
Master's
16 SAT: 970-1200
ACT: 18-23
Maryville, Missouri Public nwmissouri.edu
Keene State College (KSC)
Bachelor's
Master's
16 N/A Keene, New Hampshire Public keene.edu
Youngstown State University (YSU)
Bachelor's
16 SAT: 940-1210
ACT: 17-24
Youngstown, Ohio Public ysu.edu
Johnson & Wales University
Bachelor's
16 SAT: 970-1230
ACT: 20-26
Providence, Rhode Island Private jwu.edu
Nicholls State University
Master's
15 SAT: 928-1145
ACT: 18-24
Thibodaux, Louisiana Public nicholls.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)
Bachelor's
15 SAT: 1100-1290
ACT: 22-28
Athens, Ohio Public ohio.edu
Sinclair Community College
Associate's
Other Award
15 N/A Dayton, Ohio Public sinclair.edu
Meredith College
Bachelor's
14 SAT: 1110-1260
ACT: 23-30
Raleigh, North Carolina Private meredith.edu
Western Carolina University (WCU)
Bachelor's
14 SAT: 1050-1260
ACT: 20-26
Cullowhee, North Carolina Public wcu.edu
Ouachita Baptist University (OBU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
13 SAT: 1060-1290
ACT: 21-28
Arkadelphia, Arkansas Private obu.edu
SUNY Oneonta
Bachelor's
13 SAT: 1090-1250
ACT: 23-28
Oneonta, New York Public suny.oneonta.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPR)
Bachelor's
13 N/A San Juan, Puerto Rico Public uprrp.edu
University of Arkansas (U of A)
Bachelor's
12 SAT: 1050-1220
ACT: 21-28
Fayetteville, Arkansas Public uark.edu
Winthrop University
Postbac Cert.
12 SAT: 1010-1220
ACT: 20-26
Rock Hill, South Carolina Public winthrop.edu
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
Bachelor's
12 SAT: 950-1170
ACT: 19-26
Johnson City, Tennessee Public etsu.edu
Samford University
Postbac Cert.
11 SAT: 1070-1260
ACT: 23-29
Birmingham, Alabama Private samford.edu
University of Central Arkansas (UCA)
Bachelor's
11 SAT: 940-1120
ACT: 19-25
Conway, Arkansas Public uca.edu
University of Idaho (U of I)
Master's
11 SAT: 950-1200
ACT: 20-29
Moscow, Idaho Public uidaho.edu
Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU)
Bachelor's
11 SAT: 980-1160
ACT: 18-25
Nacogdoches, Texas Public sfasu.edu
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU)
Bachelor's
10 SAT: 1140-1410
ACT: 22-30
San Diego, California Private pointloma.edu
Long Island University (LIU)
Postbac Cert.
10 SAT: 1140-1350
ACT: 25-30
Brookville, New York Private liu.edu
Messiah University
Bachelor's
Master's
10 SAT: 1100-1340
ACT: 22-30
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Private messiah.edu
South Dakota State University (SDSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
10 SAT: 1040-1300
ACT: 19-26
Brookings, South Dakota Public sdstate.edu
Lipscomb University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
10 SAT: 1145-1350
ACT: 22-29
Nashville, Tennessee Private lipscomb.edu
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
Master's
10 SAT: 910-1110
ACT: 16-22
Edinburg, Texas Public utrgv.edu
Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Master's
10 SAT: 940-1140
ACT: 19-25
Huntsville, Texas Public shsu.edu
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
Master's
9 N/A Little Rock, Arkansas Public uams.edu
Central Michigan University (CMU)
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 960-1210
ACT: 21-27
Mount Pleasant, Michigan Public cmich.edu
Madonna University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
9 SAT: 890-1120 Livonia, Michigan Private madonna.edu
Wayne State University (WSU)
Master's
9 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 21-28
Detroit, Michigan Public wayne.edu
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 885-1110
ACT: 17-24
Las Cruces, New Mexico Public nmsu.edu
Marywood University
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 1050-1240
ACT: 21-26
Scranton, Pennsylvania Private marywood.edu
Tennessee Technological University (TTU)
Master's
9 SAT: 1020-1250
ACT: 20-27
Cookeville, Tennessee Public tntech.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWGB)
Master's
9 ACT: 18-25 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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