Nutrition Science
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Types of Degrees Nutrition Science Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many nutrition science graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 3,334 |
Master’s Degree | 1,182 |
Doctor’s Degree | 152 |
Graduate Certificate | 105 |
Associate’s Degree | 20 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
What Nutrition Science Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to nutrition science and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Nutrition Science Majors
Nutrition Science majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Skills for Nutrition Science Majors
nutrition science majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Abilities for Nutrition Science Majors
Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a nutrition science student include the following:

- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Nutrition Science Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with nutrition science:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Biological Science Professors | 15.1% | $82,550 |
Dietetic Technicians | 9.3% | $27,140 |
Dietitians and Nutritionists | 14.6% | $60,370 |
Life Scientists | 9.0% | $78,190 |
Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 8.0% | $79,590 |
Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Science?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of nutrition science majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 434 |
Black or African American | 138 |
Hispanic or Latino | 576 |
White | 1,739 |
International Students | 201 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 246 |
Geographic Diversity
Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Nutrition Science. About 6.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- Saudi Arabia
- India
- Taiwan
- South Korea
How Much Do Nutrition Science Majors Make?
Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary
The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science was $28,500 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $26,900 (25th percentile) and $31,400 (75th percentile).

Note that some of these people may have jobs that are not directly related to a nutrition science degree.
Salaries According to BLS
Nutrition Science majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $61,210 to $97,340 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Nutrition Science
Some careers associated with nutrition science require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for nutrition science careers below.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 5.8% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 13.1% |
Some College Courses | 1.3% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 1.0% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 19.2% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 6.7% |
Master’s Degree | 12.3% |
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 0.7% |
Doctoral Degree | 23.2% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 16.7% |
Online Nutrition Science Programs
In 2018-2019, 129 schools offered a nutrition science program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 1 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 5 | 1 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 7 | 3 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 1 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 86 | 14 |
Post-Master’s | 5 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 46 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Nutrition Science Worth It?
The median salary for a nutrition science grad is $83,600 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 110% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $874,000 after 20 years!

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Majors Related to Nutrition Science
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to nutrition science.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 37,392 |
Biological & Physical Science | 29,278 |
International Studies | 7,967 |
Interdisciplinary Studies | 6,609 |
Behavioral Science | 3,731 |
Natural Sciences | 2,571 |
Cognitive Science | 2,275 |
Sustainability Science | 2,194 |
Human Biology | 1,460 |
Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution | 1,310 |
Gerontology | 1,281 |
Human Computer Interaction | 1,272 |
Science, Technology & Society | 1,171 |
Mathematics & Computer Science | 1,105 |
Computational Science | 927 |
Systems Theory | 917 |
Museum Studies | 801 |
Dispute Resolution | 668 |
Historic Preservation | 433 |
Multicultural & Diversity Studies | 424 |
Classical & Ancient Studies | 303 |
Marine Science | 275 |
Cultural Studies & Analysis | 227 |
Biopsychology | 165 |
Medieval Studies | 108 |
Accounting & Computer Science | 71 |
Maritime Studies | 45 |
Holocaust Studies | 40 |
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By division, CSIRO under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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