by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 49 U.S. colleges awarded 1,144 degrees and certificates in Human Nutrition. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Human Nutrition 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.
Studying Human Nutrition explores Human Nutrition. A Program That Focuses On The Relationships Between Food Consumption And Human Development And Health. Includes Instruction In The Cellular And Molecular Processes Of Food Processing In The Human Body, Related Metabolic Processes, The Relationship Of Food And Nutrition To Disease, And Nutritional Needs Across The Life Span.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, human nutrition draws strong interest, with 1,144 degrees awarded annually. 49 colleges award human nutrition degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 204.
By level, the 1,144 awards include 33 associate degrees, 506 bachelor’s degrees, 604 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of human nutrition degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,000 of 1,144). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (695) and Hispanic or Latino (174), and international students earned 41.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Human Nutrition Schools ranking, including 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 17 for master’s degrees. It also ranks human nutrition schools within 8 states. In all, 49 colleges offer human nutrition programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Human Nutrition Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common human nutrition credential is the master’s degree: 604 of the 1,144 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to human nutrition call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a human nutrition degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 33 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 506 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 604 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Post-baccalaureate certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to human nutrition, at 40.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 40.2% |
| Master’s degree | 34.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Human Nutrition, with an average median salary of $112,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Dietitians and Nutritionists, at 1.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Administrative Dietitian, Diet Consultant, Diet Counselor and Community Dietitian.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to human nutrition, 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% |
Human Nutrition 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 human nutrition, with a median salary of $125,305.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
Human Nutrition has 3 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 2,529 degrees a year; the largest are Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General (2,083), Foodservice Systems Administration/Management (333) and Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other (113). Browse all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General | 2,083 |
| Foodservice Systems Administration/Management | 333 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other | 113 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
