by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Dietetics/Dietitian covers Dietetics/dietitian. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Integrate And Apply The Principles Of The Food And Nutrition Sciences, Human Behavior, And The Biomedical Sciences To Design And Manage Effective Nutrition Programs In A Variety Of Settings. Includes Instruction In Human Nutrition; Nutrient Metabolism; The Role Of Foods And Nutrition In Health Promotion And Disease Prevention; Planning And Directing Food Service Activities; Diet And Nutrition Analysis And Planning; Supervision Of Food Storage And Preparation; Client Education; And Professional Standards And Regulations. Examples: [Dietetics/dietitian (Rd)], [Registered Dietitian (Rd)]. Continue reading for the key facts every dietetics/dietitian student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering dietetics/dietitian programs.
Nationwide, dietetics/dietitian draws strong interest, with 3,028 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Dietetics/Dietitian Schools ranking analyzes these 145 schools to determine the best overall colleges for dietetics/dietitian students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of dietetics/dietitian programs later in this article.
Studies in Dietetics/Dietitian emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations dietetics/dietitian graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a dietetics/dietitian program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a dietetics/dietitian major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several dietetics/dietitian 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 | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 86 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,685 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,236 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to dietetics/dietitian tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 45.2% |
| Master’s degree | 28.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in dietetics/dietitian careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in dietetics/dietitian can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to dietetics/dietitian.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dietetics/dietitian.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 587,747 | 5.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of dietetics/dietitian graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 dietetics/dietitian graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers dietetics/dietitian grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
With 145 different dietetics/dietitian programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased dietetics/dietitian school rankings to help you.
Those considering dietetics/dietitian, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist | 919 |
| Dietitian Assistant | 615 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other | 465 |
| Dietetic Technician | 159 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
