by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist explores Clinical Nutrition/nutritionist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles Of Dietetics And The Biomedical And Nutrition Sciences To Design And Manage Effective Nutrition Programs As Part Of Clinical Treatment And Therapy Programs, And To Manage Health Care Facility Food Services. Includes Instruction In Human Nutrition, Nutrient Metabolism, The Role Of Foods And Nutrition In Health Promotion And Disease Prevention, Nutrition As A Treatment Regime, Planning And Directing Hospital Food Service Programs, Diet And Nutrition Analysis And Planning, Supervision Of Food Storage And Preparation, Special Diets, Client Education, And Professional Standards And Regulations. Read on to learn the essential details every clinical nutrition/nutritionist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering clinical nutrition/nutritionist programs.
Across the country, clinical nutrition/nutritionist draws strong interest, with 919 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist Schools ranking analyzes these 43 schools to determine the best overall colleges for clinical nutrition/nutritionist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of clinical nutrition/nutritionist programs later in this article.
Programs in Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations clinical nutrition/nutritionist graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a clinical nutrition/nutritionist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a clinical nutrition/nutritionist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several clinical nutrition/nutritionist 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 98 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 785 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 36 |
People currently working in careers related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 53.3% |
| Master’s degree | 33.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in clinical nutrition/nutritionist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in clinical nutrition/nutritionist can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical nutrition/nutritionist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of clinical nutrition/nutritionist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,296 |
| 4 years | $49,100 |
| 5 years | $54,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for clinical nutrition/nutritionist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers clinical nutrition/nutritionist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
With 43 different clinical nutrition/nutritionist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased clinical nutrition/nutritionist school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in clinical nutrition/nutritionist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 3,028 |
| Dietitian Assistant | 615 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other | 465 |
| Dietetic Technician | 159 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
