by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 210 U.S. colleges awarded 3,673 degrees and certificates in Food, Nutrition & Related Services. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 84 schools in its 2027 Best Food, Nutrition & Related Services Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,773 one year after completing, rising to $55,364 after four years.
Nutrition is a vast, interesting and important topic that affects all of us. A Food, Nutrition & Related Services Major will give you the chance to learn about the role that diet plays in prevention, development, and treatment of major diseases. You will learn how to critically evaluate food and nutrition information and also how to use research to eat better. The role of food and nutrition plays an integral part of a person's health and development through their entire life cycle.
If you are itching to explore principles of food science and safety, food management and business, and issues of hunger and food insecurity, this is the major for you.
Some classes you may take in this major include: human nutrition, advanced nutrition, community nutrition, life cycle nutrition, introduction to food science, eating through history, nutrition and chronic disease, biochemistry, microbiology, psychology, anatomy and physiology, and statistics.
Some of the concentrations available in this major include: Food, Nutrition & Wellness Studies, Human Nutrition and Foodservice Management. Not all concentrations are available at every school, so research your college thoroughly to make sure they have the classes that most interest you.
A major in Food, Nutrition & Related Services explores Foods, Nutrition, And Related Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, food, nutrition & related services draws strong interest, with 3,673 degrees awarded annually. 210 colleges award food, nutrition & related services degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 219.
By level, the 3,673 awards include 5 certificates, 382 associate degrees, 1,766 bachelor’s degrees, 1,480 master’s degrees and 11 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of food, nutrition & related services degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,911 of 3,673). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,976) and Hispanic or Latino (623), and international students earned 127.
College Factual ranks 84 schools in its 2027 Best Food, Nutrition & Related Services Schools ranking, including 37 for bachelor’s degrees and 41 for master’s degrees. It also ranks food, nutrition & related services schools within 26 states. In all, 210 colleges offer food, nutrition & related services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Food, Nutrition & Related Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common food, nutrition & related services credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,766 of the 3,673 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to food, nutrition & related services call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Communication skills will play a huge role in this major. You should be comfortable with giving oral presentations, teaching classes, and creating and presenting scientific posters. Part of your coursework will include writing research papers and creating a nutrition education portfolio. Work on your communication skills while in college to prepare yourself for a career that involves a lot of public speaking as well as one-on-one interaction. You will need to constantly research to stay current in your knowledge. As a professional, you will likely be working with diverse people groups so an open mind and patience in explaining your research is necessary.
Many schools will require an internship before you graduate. This will allow you to gain experience in the field before you enter the workforce.
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How long a food, nutrition & related services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 382 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,766 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,480 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
Post-baccalaureate certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to food, nutrition & related services, at 35.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 35.8% |
| Master’s degree | 30.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Food, Nutrition & Related Services, with an average median salary of $99,372; the strongest outlook belongs to Food Service Managers, at 7.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Dietary Aide, Menu Planner, Nutrition Coordinator and Nutrition Counselor.
A degree in Food, Nutrition & Related Services will open up a variety of diverse, interesting and fulfilling career options. You may decide to become a Registered Dietitian; in this job you will provide food and nutrition expertise in hospitals, research centers, schools, fitness centers and other settings. You will also have the option to enter into a sales or marketing position for a health or food service, or become a health researcher or writer. Graduates also find work in public health, sports nutrition, or other health food related fields.
The occupation related to food, nutrition & related services with the most projected jobs is Dietitians and Nutritionists, at 3,155,854.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 587,747 | 5.0% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 395,624 | 0.1% |
Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates earn a median $35,773 one year after completing their program, $55,364 after four years and $48,775 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,773 |
| 4 years | $55,364 |
| 5 years | $48,775 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to food, nutrition & related services, with a median salary of $165,782.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,104 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,453 |
Food, Nutrition & Related Services includes 4 concentrations that together award 3,673 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General (2,083), Human Nutrition (1,144) and Foodservice Systems Administration/Management (333). It has 8 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 52,619 degrees a year; the largest are Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (45,898), Apparel and Textiles (2,698) and Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (2,010). Browse all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General | 2,083 |
| Human Nutrition | 1,144 |
| Foodservice Systems Administration/Management | 333 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other | 113 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
