by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 155 U.S. colleges awarded 5,569 degrees and certificates in Nutrition Science. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 99 schools in its 2027 Best Nutrition Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,119 one year after completing, rising to $62,723 after four years.
Are you fascinated by food, health and nutrition? A major in Nutrition Sciences will allow you to fully explore how the body uses food for energy and nutrition. You will learn about the affects nutrition has on illness, exercise, and aging and how the digestive process works. You will also explore the science behind the makeup of food.
Classes you will take in this major include: anatomy, biology, chemistry, human nutrition, data analysis, physics, biochemistry, organic chemistry, immunology, physiology, vitamin and mineral biochemistry, and lifecycle nutrition.
A major in Nutrition Science explores Nutrition Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, nutrition science is a popular field of study, with 5,569 degrees awarded annually. 155 colleges award nutrition science degrees, an average of 36 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 162.
By level, the 5,569 awards include 13 associate degrees, 3,279 bachelor’s degrees, 2,062 master’s degrees and 215 doctorates.
Women earned 82% of nutrition science degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,589 of 5,569). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,716) and Hispanic or Latino (1,007), and international students earned 519.
College Factual ranks 99 schools in its 2027 Best Nutrition Science Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 66 for bachelor’s degrees, 63 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks nutrition science schools within 34 states. In all, 155 colleges offer nutrition science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Nutrition Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common nutrition science credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,279 of the 5,569 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to nutrition science call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
This is an interdisciplinary major that requires research many different topics of food, health and science. Students will spend time in lecture halls, labs and in the field. They will be required to communicate their findings in research papers, lab reports and oral presentations. Learn to write clearly and effectively, avoiding technical terms and jargon.
A passion for biological processes will be important. You will be exploring the different nutrient requirements for athletes, children, or geriatrics. Many schools will require you to work as an intern in this field. You could work on campus in the health center or for a food processing company. Nutrition research is constantly updated, meaning you will need to stay up to date on the latest information and advice.
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How long a nutrition science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 13 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,279 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,062 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 215 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to nutrition science, at 34.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 34.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 20.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Nutrition Science, with an average median salary of $93,445; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Dietary Aide, Nutrition Counselor and Nutrition Coordinator.
Nutrition Sciences will prepare you for a career as dietician or nutritionist. As obesity and eating disorders increase, there has also been an increase in promoting health and wellness. Diet can help prevent some diseases and professionals in this field can help provide care for people with diabetes or high cholesterol. Graduates can also work in public health institutions, hospitals, health centers or gyms.
The occupation related to nutrition science 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% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 587,747 | 5.0% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
Nutrition Science graduates earn a median $37,119 one year after completing their program, $62,723 after four years and $59,138 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,119 |
| 4 years | $62,723 |
| 5 years | $59,138 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to nutrition science is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
Nutrition Science includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Nutrition Sciences (5,569). It has 48 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 144,853 degrees a year; the largest are Biological and Physical Sciences (29,811), Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (29,665) and Data Analytics (17,572). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,569 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 29,811 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 29,665 |
| Data Analytics | 17,572 |
| Data Science | 11,772 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 11,175 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 6,906 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,644 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,567 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,911 |
| Natural Sciences | 3,002 |
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