by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 45 U.S. colleges awarded 905 degrees and certificates in Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 83% of graduates. College Factual ranks 28 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,211 one year after completing, rising to $57,022 after four years.
A degree in Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist explores Clinical Nutrition/nutritionist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles Of Dietetics And The Biomedical And Nutrition Sciences To Design And Manage Effective Nutrition Programs As Part Of Clinical Treatment And Therapy Programs, And To Manage Health Care Facility Food Services. Includes Instruction In Human Nutrition, Nutrient Metabolism, The Role Of Foods And Nutrition In Health Promotion And Disease Prevention, Nutrition As A Treatment Regime, Planning And Directing Hospital Food Service Programs, Diet And Nutrition Analysis And Planning, Supervision Of Food Storage And Preparation, Special Diets, Client Education, And Professional Standards And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, clinical nutrition/nutritionist draws strong interest, with 905 degrees awarded annually. 45 colleges award clinical nutrition/nutritionist degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 128.
By level, the 905 awards include 1 certificates, 90 bachelor’s degrees, 755 master’s degrees and 59 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of clinical nutrition/nutritionist degrees and certificates in the latest year (787 of 905). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (561) and Hispanic or Latino (89), and international students earned 31.
College Factual ranks 28 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist Schools ranking, including 9 for bachelor’s degrees, 26 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks clinical nutrition/nutritionist schools within 12 states. In all, 45 colleges offer clinical nutrition/nutritionist programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common clinical nutrition/nutritionist credential is the master’s degree: 755 of the 905 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Biology, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Speech Clarity, Inductive Reasoning and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a clinical nutrition/nutritionist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 90 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 755 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 59 |
Post-baccalaureate certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist, at 53.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 53.3% |
| Master’s degree | 33.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist, with an average median salary of $125,305; the strongest outlook belongs to Dietitians and Nutritionists, at 1.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Outpatient Dietitian, Nutrition Counselor, Sports Nutritionist and Nutritionist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist, at 3,155,854.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist graduates earn a median $43,211 one year after completing their program, $57,022 after four years and $54,790 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,211 |
| 4 years | $57,022 |
| 5 years | $54,790 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist, with a median salary of $125,305.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist has 4 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 4,020 degrees a year; the largest are Dietetics/Dietitian (3,001), Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other (453) and Dietitian Assistant (406). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 3,001 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other | 453 |
| Dietitian Assistant | 406 |
| Dietetic Technician | 160 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
