by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, food and nutrition was the 228th most popular major nationwide with 3,131 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 145 over the prior year, a growth of 4.6%.
This year's Best Food & Nutrition Schools ranking compares 49 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of food and nutrition programs later in this article.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to food and nutrition. Talking to others to convey information effectively and monitoring assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic food and nutrition program qualifications, to serve in some food and nutrition careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of food and nutrition degrees. You can get anything from a in food and nutrition to the highest food and nutrition degree, a . The time it takes to complete a food and nutrition degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to food and nutrition, with approximately 17.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for food and nutrition workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 34.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 15.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 13.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 9.9% |
Most workers in food and nutrition have at least a bachelor's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in food and nutrition have received.
The education level required is different depending on the food and nutrition career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your food and nutrition degree? Food & Nutrition careers are expected to grow 12.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to food and nutrition.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 77,900 | 14.6% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 36,500 | 9.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for food and nutrition graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for food and nutrition graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers food and nutrition grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $61,210 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $30,130 |
With over 248 different food and nutrition degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased food and nutrition school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Food, Nutrition & Related Services area of study, Food & Nutrition has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Nutrition | 1,197 |
| Foodservice Systems Administration/Management | 438 |
| Other Foods, Nutrition, & Related Services | 92 |
