by our College Data Analytics TeamNutrition is a vast, interesting and important topic that affects all of us. A Food, Nutrition & Related Services Major will give you the chance to learn about the role that diet plays in prevention, development, and treatment of major diseases. You will learn how to critically evaluate food and nutrition information and also how to use research to eat better. The role of food and nutrition plays an integral part of a person's health and development through their entire life cycle.
If you are itching to explore principles of food science and safety, food management and business, and issues of hunger and food insecurity, this is the major for you.
Some classes you may take in this major include: human nutrition, advanced nutrition, community nutrition, life cycle nutrition, introduction to food science, eating through history, nutrition and chronic disease, biochemistry, microbiology, psychology, anatomy and physiology, and statistics.
Some of the concentrations available in this major include: Food, Nutrition & Wellness Studies, Human Nutrition and Foodservice Management. Not all concentrations are available at every school, so research your college thoroughly to make sure they have the classes that most interest you.
A major in Food, Nutrition & Related Services explores Foods, Nutrition, And Related Services. Continue reading for the essential details every food, nutrition & related services student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering food, nutrition & related services programs.
Across the country, food, nutrition & related services draws strong interest, with 3,867 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Food, Nutrition & Related Services Schools ranking analyzes these 211 schools to determine the best overall colleges for food, nutrition & related services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of food, nutrition & related services programs later in this article.
Programs in Food, Nutrition & Related Services emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations food, nutrition & related services graduates commonly enter.
Communication skills will play a huge role in this major. You should be comfortable with giving oral presentations, teaching classes, and creating and presenting scientific posters. Part of your coursework will include writing research papers and creating a nutrition education portfolio. Work on your communication skills while in college to prepare yourself for a career that involves a lot of public speaking as well as one-on-one interaction. You will need to constantly research to stay current in your knowledge. As a professional, you will likely be working with diverse people groups so an open mind and patience in explaining your research is necessary.
Many schools will require an internship before you graduate. This will allow you to gain experience in the field before you enter the workforce.
Skills developed in a food, nutrition & related services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a food, nutrition & related services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several food, nutrition & related services degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 335 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,969 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,500 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
People currently working in careers related to food, nutrition & related services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 35.8% |
| Master’s degree | 30.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in food, nutrition & related services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in Food, Nutrition & Related Services will open up a variety of diverse, interesting and fulfilling career options. You may decide to become a Registered Dietitian; in this job you will provide food and nutrition expertise in hospitals, research centers, schools, fitness centers and other settings. You will also have the option to enter into a sales or marketing position for a health or food service, or become a health researcher or writer. Graduates also find work in public health, sports nutrition, or other health food related fields.
Studying food, nutrition & related services can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to food, nutrition & related services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to food, nutrition & related services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 587,747 | 5.0% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 395,624 | 0.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of food, nutrition & related services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,066 |
| 4 years | $41,526 |
| 5 years | $47,346 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for food, nutrition & related services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers food, nutrition & related services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,104 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,453 |
With 211 different food, nutrition & related services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased food, nutrition & related services school rankings to help you.
Those considering food, nutrition & related services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General | 2,264 |
| Human Nutrition | 1,095 |
| Foodservice Systems Administration/Management | 373 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other | 135 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
