Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the profound impact of dietary choices and nutritional science on human health across the lifespan. This program equips learners with the expertise to analyze, plan, and implement evidence-based strategies that promote optimal well-being through informed food practices.
- Nutritional Care and Education: Explores methods for delivering science-backed nutrition information to individuals and communities, emphasizing behavior change and health promotion.
- Food Service Planning and Management: Focuses on the operational aspects of organizing and managing food systems in institutional, community, and commercial settings.
- Food Product Development: Investigates the process of designing and producing safe, nutritious, and palatable food items for diverse consumer needs.
- Lifespan Nutrition and Wellness: Examines nutritional requirements and health outcomes from infancy through older adulthood, addressing age-specific physiological and lifestyle factors.
- Nutritional Assessment Principles: Teaches techniques for evaluating individual and population-level nutritional status using clinical, biochemical, and dietary data.
- Food Safety and Composition: Covers the science of preventing contamination, ensuring food integrity, and understanding the macronutrient and micronutrient profiles of dietary components.
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies degrees, including Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, 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 109,150 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1192 | $77,280 | $47,580 - $133,180 | 2,630 | N/A |
| 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 |
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $46,840 in Arkansas to $90,387 in California—a 93% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Alaska, and Wyoming. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 109,150 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 Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies 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 Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies is found at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (231 graduates), University of Nebraska (UNL), Lincoln (168 graduates), Lamar University (LU) (98 graduates), Oklahoma State University (OSU), Main Campus (83 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (80 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,178 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
231 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
168 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Master's
|
98 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
80 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
68 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
52 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Simmons University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
44 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Framingham State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Framingham, Massachusetts | Public | framingham.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
36 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Central Arizona College (CAC) |
Other Award
|
34 | Coolidge, Arizona | Public | centralaz.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Residency
|
25 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Lincoln University |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Jefferson City, Missouri | Public | lincolnu.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
22 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Meredith College |
Master's
|
22 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | meredith.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| University of Saint Joseph (USJ) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
17 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | usj.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Waldorf University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Forest City, Iowa | Private | waldorf.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Morgan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | morgan.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Master's
|
15 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
|
14 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Master's
|
14 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Master's
|
13 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Cosumnes River College (CRC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Sacramento, California | Public | crc.losrios.edu |
| Cuesta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | cuesta.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
11 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Associate's
|
10 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Riverside City College (RCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
10 | Riverside, California | Public | rcc.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Cedar Crest College |
Master's
|
9 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | cedarcrest.edu |
| South Carolina State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Orangeburg, South Carolina | Public | scsu.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| SUNY Westchester Community College |
Associate's
|
8 | Valhalla, New York | Public | sunywcc.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Master's
|
8 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Shepherd University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Shepherdstown, West Virginia | Public | shepherd.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | jwu.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| College of San Mateo (CSM) |
Associate's
|
7 | San Mateo, California | Public | collegeofsanmateo.edu |
| Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) |
Associate's
|
7 | Sewell, New Jersey | Public | rcsj.edu |
| Santiago Canyon College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Orange, California | Public | sccollege.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Sylmar, California | Public | lamission.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Solano Community College |
Associate's
|
6 | Fairfield, California | Public | welcome.solano.edu |
| Madonna University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Master's
|
6 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Master's
|
6 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Other Award
|
6 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District (MSJC) |
Associate's
|
5 | San Jacinto, California | Public | msjc.edu |
| Graceland University |
Master's
|
5 | Lamoni, Iowa | Private | graceland.edu |
| Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Public | sfcc.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Bluffton University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bluffton, Ohio | Private | bluffton.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Merced College |
Associate's
|
4 | Merced, California | Public | mccd.edu |
| Mission College |
Associate's
|
4 | Santa Clara, California | Public | missioncollege.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Associate's
|
4 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Master's
|
4 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Alcorn State University (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Alcorn State, Mississippi | Public | alcorn.edu |
| CUNY Hostos Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Bronx, New York | Public | hostos.cuny.edu |
| Snow College |
Associate's
|
4 | Ephraim, Utah | Public | snow.edu |
| Radford University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Radford, Virginia | Public | radford.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies degree?
Salaries for Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies graduates vary by role and location. Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,280 annually, while Dietitians and Nutritionists earn around $73,850. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $90,387 compared to $46,840 in Arkansas. Approximately 109,150 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 Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies programs?
Currently 149 accredited institutions offer Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (231 graduates), University of Nebraska (UNL), Lincoln (168 graduates), and Lamar University (LU) (98 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 Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,347 in 2010 to a peak of 2,986 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,264 in 2023-24. This represents a 32% 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 Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, Dietitians and Nutritionists, and Dietetic Technicians. Related occupations employ approximately 109,150 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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