by our College Data Analytics TeamIn order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to have a well-rounded diet. Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services majors work with patients to oversee health and diet needs and help them reach goals.
This major involves classes in chemistry, physiology, nutrition, and biology to learn how to design nutrition plans and help ensure patients are receiving important nutrients. Professionals work in nursing homes, cafeterias, hospitals, schools, and offices where they can work closely with food and evaluate the nutritional needs of groups of people or individual patients.
Students interested in the Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services field often specialize in Clinical Nutrition, Dietetic Technician, Dietitian Assistant, or Bioethics/Medical Ethics.
In 2021-2022, dietetics & clinical nutrition services was the 128th most popular major nationwide with 6,113 degrees awarded. This year's Best Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services Schools ranking compares 99 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nutrition programs later in this article.
Students in the Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services major typically have strong critical thinking and analytical skills. They must observe patients' nutritional needs and create dietary plans to help patients receive all the nutrition they need to stay healthy or reach a certain goal. Strong interpersonal and communication skills allow students to work closely with others to help them face dietary concerns.
A degree in this field usually leads to a fulltime job in a variety of locations. Some Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services majors work for medical services in hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics, while other professionals are self-employed. Self-employment allows you to work closely with individuals or smaller groups of people while setting your own hours.
In order to earn a degree in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, students must complete an internship. This experience gives you hands-on experience within the field under the supervision of a trained professional. Students must also be licensed before working in this career field.
dietetics & clinical nutrition services degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific nutrition careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different nutrition degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in dietetics & clinical nutrition services to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the dietetics & clinical nutrition services degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| 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 nutrition, with approximately 17.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for 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% |
53.2% of nutrition workers have at least a bachelor's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in dietetics & clinical nutrition services careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the nutrition career you are seeking.
Graduates work in many different locations where they deal with the dietary needs of others by planning meals, adding supplementary nutrition, and observing the effects of meal plans. Some graduates work in the cafeterias of schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, while other graduates have gone on to open their own practice.
Want a job when you graduate with your nutrition degree? Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services careers are expected to grow 12.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dietetics & clinical nutrition services.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 77,900 | 14.6% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 36,500 | 9.3% |
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $40,509 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $17,669 to as high as $69,204. As you might expect, salaries for nutrition graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for dietetics & clinical nutrition services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nutrition grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $61,210 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $30,130 |
With over 459 different 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 nutrition school rankings to help you with this.
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 3,685 |
| Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist | 1,125 |
| Dietitian Assistant | 612 |
| Other Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 519 |
| Dietetic Technician | 172 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 319,502 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 88,600 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
| Allied Health Professions | 83,905 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 83,587 |
