Are you fascinated by food, health and nutrition? A major in Nutrition Sciences will allow you to fully explore how the body uses food for energy and nutrition. You will learn about the affects nutrition has on illness, exercise, and aging and how the digestive process works. You will also explore the science behind the makeup of food.
Classes you will take in this major include: anatomy, biology, chemistry, human nutrition, data analysis, physics, biochemistry, organic chemistry, immunology, physiology, vitamin and mineral biochemistry, and lifecycle nutrition.
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Nutrition Science Degrees in the United States
#124Most Popular Major
5.6kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
In 2021-2022, nutrition science was the 124th most popular major nationwide with 5,598 degrees awarded.
This year's Best Nutrition Science Schools ranking compares 76 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom nutrition science rankings further below.
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What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Nutrition Science
This is an interdisciplinary major that requires research many different topics of food, health and science. Students will spend time in lecture halls, labs and in the field. They will be required to communicate their findings in research papers, lab reports and oral presentations. Learn to write clearly and effectively, avoiding technical terms and jargon.
A passion for biological processes will be important. You will be exploring the different nutrient requirements for athletes, children, or geriatrics. Many schools will require you to work as an intern in this field. You could work on campus in the health center or for a food processing company. Nutrition research is constantly updated, meaning you will need to stay up to date on the latest information and advice.
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Getting Accepted Into a Nutrition Science Program
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most nutrition science degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional nutrition science certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Nutrition Science Degree Types
There are many different nutrition science degree levels. Nutrition Science programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest nutrition science degree you can get. Depending on the nutrition science 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 science, with approximately 21.6% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for nutrition science workers below.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Doctoral Degree
23.2%
Bachelor’s Degree
19.2%
Post-Doctoral Training
16.7%
High School Diploma
13.1%
Master’s Degree
12.3%
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About 50.4% of workers in careers related to nutrition science obtain at least master's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in nutrition science have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which nutrition science career you choose.
Nutrition Science Careers
AverageNumber of Jobs
$35.6kAverage Starting Salary
12% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
Nutrition Sciences will prepare you for a career as dietician or nutritionist. As obesity and eating disorders increase, there has also been an increase in promoting health and wellness. Diet can help prevent some diseases and professionals in this field can help provide care for people with diabetes or high cholesterol. Graduates can also work in public health institutions, hospitals, health centers or gyms.
Solid Growth Projected for Nutrition Science Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your nutrition science degree? Nutrition Science careers are expected to grow 11.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nutrition science.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Dietitians and Nutritionists
77,900
14.6%
Biological Science Professors
71,700
15.1%
Natural Sciences Managers
62,300
9.9%
Biological Scientists
41,800
8.0%
Dietetic Technicians
36,500
9.3%
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How Much Money Do Nutrition Science Grads Make?
Recently graduated nutrition science students earned an average of $35,614 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $18,122 to as high as $66,323. As you might expect, salaries for nutrition science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Nutrition Science Careers
Salaries for nutrition science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nutrition science grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Natural Sciences Managers
$139,680
Biological Science Professors
$97,340
Life Scientists
$89,150
Biological Scientists
$83,600
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$61,210
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Getting Your Nutrition Science Degree
With over 324 different nutrition science 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 science school rankings to help you with this.
by our College Data Analytics Team
