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.
Food, Nutrition & Related Services was the 135th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,858 degrees in this year alone. This is approximately the same as the 4,889 graduates the prior year.
Our 2023 Best Food, Nutrition & Related Services Schools ranking analyzes 73 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for food, nutrition and related services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nutrition programs later in this article.
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.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most nutrition 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 certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different nutrition degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in food, nutrition and related services to something that takes less time like a . Different food, nutrition and related services degrees vary in how long they take.
| 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 master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to nutrition, with approximately 10.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for nutrition workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 40.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 12.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 10.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 6.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in food, nutrition and related services careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the nutrition career you are seeking.
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.
Want a job when you graduate with your nutrition degree? Food, Nutrition & Related Services careers are expected to grow 9.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to food, nutrition and related services.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation and Serving Worker Supervisors | 1,024,500 | 9.3% |
| Institution and Cafeteria Cooks | 457,400 | 7.7% |
| Food Service Managers | 336,400 | 9.0% |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 77,900 | 14.6% |
| Dietetic Technicians | 36,500 | 9.3% |
Recently graduated food, nutrition and related services students earned an average of $34,748 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $13,207 to as high as $60,230. As you might expect, salaries for nutrition graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for food, nutrition and related services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nutrition grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Economics Professors | $77,170 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $61,210 |
| Food Service Managers | $58,960 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Worker Supervisors | $36,190 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $30,130 |
With over 428 different nutrition 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 school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Food, Nutrition & Related Services that might interest you.
One of 7 majors within the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences area of study, Food, Nutrition & Related Services has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Food & Nutrition | 3,131 |
| Human Nutrition | 1,197 |
| Foodservice Systems Administration/Management | 438 |
| Other Foods, Nutrition, & Related Services | 92 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Development & Family Studies | 42,112 |
| Textile & Apparel Studies | 3,313 |
| General Family & Consumer Sciences | 2,906 |
| Family & Consumer Economics | 1,454 |
| Human Sciences Business Services | 704 |
