Nutrition Sciences: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 55 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$93,709 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
16.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−37%Modeled 10-year ROI
$60,728Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Nutrition Sciences
How much do Nutrition Sciences bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $60,728 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $24,418. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Nutrition Sciences?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $55,765 to $63,292 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Nutrition Sciences?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 9 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$22,720
$8,000Annual price−$54,720
$16,000Annual price−$86,720
$18,000Current college-wide context−$94,720
$24,000Annual price−$118,720
$32,000Annual price−$150,720
$40,000Annual price−$182,720
Observed national outcomes
$60,728Median reported earnings · year 4
$57,219Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,418Median federal debt
48thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
42IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
53With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 7 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,445
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,728
- Federal debt
- $24,418
- Reporting programs
- 55
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,237
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,025
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 22
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,291
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$55,765National median$60,72875th percentile$63,292
53 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$70,867Observed year-4 earnings$51,802
University of California, Berkeley$13,481 price · $79,391 earningsNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh$17,303 price · $75,508 earningsCalifornia State University, Fresno$7,000 price · $73,522 earningsUniversity of Georgia$13,936 price · $70,867 earningsNew York University$37,050 price · $70,508 earningsUniversity of Massachusetts-Lowell$17,163 price · $69,604 earningsCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$16,665 price · $68,930 earningsSimmons University$25,265 price · $68,021 earningsMichigan State University$19,680 price · $66,437 earningsUniversity of California, Davis$14,741 price · $64,519 earningsRutgers University-New Brunswick$24,406 price · $64,441 earningsUniversity of Connecticut$25,097 price · $63,292 earningsUniversity of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus$10,875 price · $63,292 earningsUniversity of Connecticut-Avery Point$13,807 price · $63,292 earningsUniversity of Connecticut-Stamford$16,798 price · $63,292 earningsUniversity of Connecticut-Hartford Campus$16,403 price · $63,292 earningsUniversity of New Hampshire-Main Campus$23,805 price · $63,077 earningsUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst$22,383 price · $63,019 earningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College$24,558 price · $63,010 earningsPennsylvania State University-Main Campus$32,875 price · $63,010 earningsTexas A&M University-College Station$21,315 price · $62,289 earningsKansas State University$19,406 price · $62,128 earningsTexas Tech University$19,070 price · $62,087 earningsSan Francisco State University$12,278 price · $61,895 earningsCollege of Saint Benedict$26,640 price · $61,790 earningsUniversity of Vermont$19,343 price · $61,238 earningsCornell University$28,690 price · $60,728 earningsMetropolitan State University of Denver$15,327 price · $60,395 earningsColorado State University-Fort Collins$21,279 price · $59,528 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison$17,354 price · $59,329 earningsCalifornia State University, Chico$14,480 price · $59,146 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $59,079 earningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities$16,778 price · $59,054 earningsThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville$18,976 price · $58,972 earningsUniversity of Nevada-Las Vegas$10,359 price · $58,160 earningsDominican University$11,745 price · $57,532 earningsUniversity of Nevada-Reno$15,927 price · $57,193 earningsCentral Washington University$18,476 price · $56,735 earningsAuburn University$24,323 price · $56,579 earningsLa Salle University$19,409 price · $55,765 earningsUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa$15,664 price · $55,569 earningsSouthern Illinois University-Carbondale$13,297 price · $55,329 earningsLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College$19,151 price · $55,159 earningsSan Diego State University$15,364 price · $55,115 earningsCalifornia State Polytechnic University-Pomona$11,531 price · $54,605 earningsIowa State University$18,589 price · $53,933 earningsTexas Woman's University$11,963 price · $53,775 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$15,014 price · $53,006 earningsCalifornia State University, Los Angeles$3,967 price · $52,797 earningsUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro$10,965 price · $51,802 earningsUniversity of Southern Indiana$12,923 price · $49,739 earningsUniversity of Northern Colorado$17,760 price · $45,979 earnings
$10,359Annual college-wide average net price$26,640
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
55 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Berkeley$79,3912North Carolina State University at Raleigh$75,5083California State University, Fresno$73,5224University of Georgia$70,8675New York University$70,5086University of Massachusetts-Lowell$69,6047California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$68,9308Simmons University$68,0219Michigan State University$66,43710University of California, Davis$64,519Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →20%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Natural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileHealth Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270–$322,020 10th–90th percentileBiological Scientists, All Other$98,920 median wage55,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1029+4.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,430–$168,010 10th–90th percentileLife Scientists, All Other$93,750 median wage7,460 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1099+6.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$58,670–$186,260 10th–90th percentileBiological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620 median wage50,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1042+7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,150–$169,900 10th–90th percentileDietitians and Nutritionists$76,400 median wage77,570 U.S. jobs · SOC 29-1031+7.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$49,090–$103,720 10th–90th percentileFamily and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$75,870 median wage2,770 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1192+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$47,830–$130,790 10th–90th percentileFarm and Home Management Educators$60,220 median wage8,220 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9021-3.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$37,650–$85,060 10th–90th percentileDietetic Technicians$37,640 median wage31,560 U.S. jobs · SOC 29-2051+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$29,720–$54,020 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $79,391 | $16,182 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $75,508 | $22,511 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | California State University, FresnoBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $73,522 | $11,375 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $70,867 | $24,710 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $70,508 | $21,500 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $69,604 | $29,750 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $68,930 | $17,620 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Simmons UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $68,021 | $27,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $66,437 | $25,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $64,519 | $14,166 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $64,441 | $25,250 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $63,292 | $27,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $63,292 | $27,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $63,292 | $27,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $63,292 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $63,292 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $63,077 | $27,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $63,019 | $23,791 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $63,010 | $26,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $63,010 | $26,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $62,289 | $21,850 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $62,128 | $24,625 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $62,087 | $24,250 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $61,895 | $17,137 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | College of Saint BenedictBachelor's Degree | Saint Joseph, MN | $61,790 | $26,572 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $61,238 | $19,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $60,728 | $13,750 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $60,395 | $26,750 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $59,528 | $24,750 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $59,329 | $20,500 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $59,146 | $19,272 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $59,079 | $23,563 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $59,054 | $24,586 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $58,972 | $25,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $58,160 | $15,815 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Dominican UniversityBachelor's Degree | River Forest, IL | $57,532 | Not available | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $57,193 | $20,100 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $56,735 | $23,285 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $56,579 | $26,000 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | La Salle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $55,765 | $28,628 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $55,569 | $22,639 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $55,329 | $22,750 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $55,159 | $23,250 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $55,115 | $18,000 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $54,605 | $17,250 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $53,933 | $16,474 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Texas Woman's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $53,775 | $28,211 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $53,006 | $31,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $52,797 | $14,493 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $51,802 | $26,656 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | University of Southern IndianaBachelor's Degree | Evansville, IN | $49,739 | $25,000 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $45,979 | $25,346 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Bastyr UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kenmore, WA | $44,584 | $23,225 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 54 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | Not available | $17,182 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $6,541 |
| 55 | Seattle Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | Not available | $26,323 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,488 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.