These top-rated bachelor’s degrees in nutrition science programs could be your launchpad for a career in one of the most rapidly growing and diverse jobs in healthcare.
To nutritionists and dietitians, “you are what you eat” is more than an adage. It’s a professional mantra: to be well, you must eat well.
Nutritional science uses scientific principles to understand the intersection between food and wellness. Out of this constantly evolving field, food trends like quinoa, coconut oil, and spaghetti squash have exploded into mainstream consciousness.
Research in nutritional science teaches us what to eat for weight loss and disease prevention. Through emerging food production technologies ranging from 3D printing food to growing vegan “meat” in a laboratory, nutritional science researchers pave the way for tomorrow’s full bellies and favorite recipes.
What is a Bachelor’s in Nutritional Science Degree?
In a nutrition bachelor’s degree program, you learn professional clinical skills and the science of how foods and nutrients impact health – essentially, all you need to know to get started in professional practice. Graduates are prepared to assess diets, advise patients on what to eat to achieve their health goals, and plan dietary programs.
A bachelor’s in nutritional science curricula includes studies in chemistry and biology. Most core coursework revolves around food science and human nutrition. Courses such as Food and the Consumer and Issues in Human Nutrition impart knowledge of nutritional science. Classes like Nutrition and Health Assessment and Communicating Nutrition Messages focus on developing the skills to work as a nutritionist.
Some colleges with nutrition majors require that you meet a minimum GPA for admission. Students considering nutritional science should take biology, chemistry, and other physical and social science classes in high school and their first two college years.
Careers for a Nutritional Science Major
The most popular career paths for graduates with a degree in nutrition science are nutritionist and dietitian. Although both roles involve advising patients on what to eat, they are distinct. Dietitians practice medical nutrition in accordance with disease management guidelines. They face more rigorous education, training, and professional credentialing requirements than nutritionists, who take a more holistic approach to promoting wellness through diet.
Dietitians and nutritionists work in many different environments and job functions, from hospitals and nursing homes to private practices, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Nutritional science can also prepare you to work in research, public health and policy roles, and the food industry.
You can go far in the field of nutritional science with just a bachelor’s degree, but those who choose to go to graduate school are in good company. Around 53 percent of nutritionists and dietitians pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate, and 33 percent earn a master’s degree, O*NET reported.
Nutritional Science Salary Potential
While there are career options in nutrition that only require a bachelor’s degree, the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential does require a master’s degree. The median salary for these related occupations is $61,650 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports that the highest 10 percent of earners make upwards of $93,640.
PayScale reports a somewhat higher average salary for Registered Dietitians (RDs), at $57,547, than for nutritionists, at $50,946. The average starting salary is $51,216 for Registered Dietitians and $43,692 for nutritionists, according to PayScale. Bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing are also factored into the total compensation package for these occupations.
The most qualified dietitians and nutritionists are usually the best compensated. One way to improve your earning potential is to attain the Board Certified Specialist credential from the Commission for Dietetic Registration in one of several specialties, including:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Oncology Nutrition
- Renal Nutrition
- Sport Dietetics
What are the Best Nutrition Science Degrees?
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects:
40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year
30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to contact us at editor@www.collegerank.net.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
The school that students and fans affectionately refer to as “U-Dub” hugs Puget Sound and is surrounded by urban Seattle. The University of Washington is one of the top academic destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington’s athletics program is a big draw, with Huskies fans cheering for both women’s and men’s teams. The university has an undergraduate enrollment of more than 36,000.
Washington offers an undergraduate major in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students learn how the study of food touches areas such as:
- Economics
- Environment
- Labor Policies
- Social Justice
The degree requires 180 semester credit hours, including 30 hours of core classes such as U.S. Food Systems Policy and Food Systems: Harvest to Health, along with 20 hours of upper-division electives.
Washington considers this a minimum requirement major. Before applying, students must complete 45 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Completed classes must include five hours of English composition and Nutrition 200 (Nutrition for Today). Washington will also consider a credit transfer of basic nutrition courses from other 4-year schools or community colleges.
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is like the state: big. The university has the U.S.’ eighth-largest enrollment for a single campus, with more than 52,000 students, including about 41,000 undergraduates. Alumni include former First Lady Laura Bush, actor Matthew McConaughey, and personal computer magnate Michael Dell.
Texas, through its College of Natural Sciences, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition degree that has six options. One lays the groundwork for licensing as a Registered Dietitian.
Other options are designed for students who plan to continue graduate studies in the field and those who want to apply for a bachelor’s degree to entry-level positions in public health and nutrition. There’s also an “international” option that includes a semester studying abroad.
Students pursuing a bachelor’s in nutrition must earn a grade of C- or better in all math and science courses required for the degree to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in those courses. The degree calls for at least 36 semester credit hours of upper-division courses, at least 24 of which must be in nutrition.
Purdue University-Main Campus
Purdue University’s annual student-orientation program, called Boiler Gold Rush, is a big deal. The event, held right before the start of fall classes, features campus tours, a “meet the schools” picnic, and a sports pep rally. The West Lafayette, IN, university has an undergraduate enrollment of more than 51,500.
Purdue’s College of Health and Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in nutritional science. There are four options for majors:
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Food and Nutrition in Business
- Nutrition, Fitness, and Health
- Nutrition Science
The first major offers a pathway to becoming a credentialed dietitian or dietitian nutritionist. The Nutrition Science degree is designed for those who expect to go on to graduate studies in the field.
Classes in the major include:
- Food Chemistry
- Nutritional Assessment
- Public Health Nutrition
Out of the 120 semester credit hours needed for the bachelor’s degree, about 38 are nutrition-related, and another 65 to 74 are specific to the major, such as chemistry, biology, and fitness.
California State University-Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles, has a special relationship with the space program. The NASA University Research Center is unique in California. Cal State LA also has a robust engineering program that competes regularly in solar and high-mileage vehicle competitions.
The university is about a 20-minute drive from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles and about a 45-minute drive from Disneyland, depending on traffic, of course. Alumni include tennis icon Billie Jean King and actor Edward James Olmos.
The university’s Department of Nutrition and Food Science offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Science. With its location in one of the nation’s largest metropolises, Cal State requires that students perform projects that build on classroom experience with community engagement and service-learning. The undergraduate degree can prepare students for an accredited dietetic internship, which leads to certification as a dietitian.
Graduates also can become food service managers, health advocates, and teachers.
Out of the 120 credit hours required for the bachelor’s degree, 72 are requirements for the major. Classes in the major include Cultural Cuisine and Medical Nutrition Therapy. There are nearly 30 electives in the major that students can use to fine-tune their food knowledge.
Electives include Grant Writing in Community Nutrition and Food Microbiology. Prerequisites for the major include introductory sociology, chemistry, and psychology classes.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
One of the biggest events every year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the UNC Dance Marathon. Thousands of students and faculty take part in the fundraiser, which raises money for UNC Children’s Hospital. North Carolina’s alumni include basketball icon Michael Jordan, actor Ken Jeong, and comedian Lewis Black.
The university’s well-regarded Department of Nutrition offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) with a major in nutrition. Students must complete 26 semester credit hours of prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0 before applying to the program.
Coursework in the major includes classes such as Nutrition Across the Life Cycle and Human Metabolism: Macronutrients.
Graduates will have the academic background to apply to schools of pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. Students who want to focus on nutrition-based research can pursue a dual degree that combines the BSPH degree with Master of Science coursework. The dual degree can be completed in one calendar year.
James Madison University
James Madison University is nestled in the city of Harrisonburg, VA, about a two-hour drive from either Washington, D.C., or Richmond, VA. The university has a total enrollment of roughly 22,200, including about 20,300 undergraduates. Freshmen are required to live on campus.
James Madison’s Department of Health Professions offers a Didactic Program in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Science degree. The program prepares students to become Registered Dietitians.
The academic experience includes classwork, computer applications, case studies, and, in the student’s senior year, a real-life practicum at an organization in the region.
James Madison’s program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Before applying to the dietetics program, students must complete several undergraduate courses in subjects such as chemistry, psychology, and writing. The prerequisites must be passed with a GPA of 3.0 or better, and this GPA must be maintained in all major coursework. The bachelor’s degree consists of 121 semester credit hours, with classes such as:
- Experimental Foods
- Counseling Skills for Dietitians
- Clinical Nutrition
Utah State University
Not many universities have their own creamery, but Utah State University has had one since 1888, when the school was founded. The dairy industry looms large in Utah State’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.
The university is located in Logan, UT, which, with a population of about 51,000, isn’t even twice the enrollment of Utah State (about 28,000). Logan is about an hour and a half north of Salt Lake City and only about 20 minutes south of the Idaho border.
Utah State’s ag college, mentioned earlier, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science. The major has two areas of emphasis: pre-health, which aims students toward medical school with coursework such as lab research, epidemiology, and clinical nutrition, and sports nutrition, which prepares students for careers in the dietary, nutrition, and health fields, as well as coaching, marketing, and personal training.
Transfer students or those applying to the degree from another Utah State program must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75. Upper-division classes in the major include:
- Current Issues in Food Regulatory Affairs
- Nutrient Gene Interactions
- Nutritional Neuroscience
The Utah State Nutritional Science degree has students study food down to the molecular and cellular levels so they understand the building blocks of food and its impact on consumers.
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is literally in the Twin Cities. There are two campuses, one in St. Paul and another in Minneapolis, about three miles apart. The latter is considered the main campus.
Minnesota has an undergraduate enrollment of about 39,200. Freshmen aren’t required to live on campus, but about 80% do. The campus has an extensive Greek system, with about 200 organizations.
Minnesota’s undergraduate major in nutrition is offered through the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. The major has three tracks; all lead to Bachelor of Science degrees. The Didactic Program in Dietetics is the required path for a student who wants to become a Registered Dietitian or dietitian nutritionist.
The Nutrition Science track is for those who plan to continue graduate-level work in medicine, pharmacy, nutrition research, or a similar discipline. The third track, Nutrition Studies, is for students who plan to enter the workforce with a bachelor’s degree.
The major’s first two tracks can be joined after a student completes 60 hours of prerequisite coursework; the third can be started at any time. In general, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is needed to enter the major. Required credit hours in the major range from 72 to 96. Classes include:
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Life Cycle Nutrition
- Experimental Nutrition
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH, a city of about 65,000, sits halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, a little more than an hour’s drive from each.
Youngstown State University is a relatively small institution, with a total enrollment of about 11,000, which includes about 8,800 undergraduates. The campus has a planetarium, along with a student wellness center that features a 53-foot-high rock wall.
Youngstown State’s Bitonte College of Health and Human Services offers a Didactic Bachelor’s Program in Dietetics, which also targets a Registered Dietitian career. Students start as a pre-dietetics major and must satisfy admission criteria for applying to the program.
The didactic program covers five semesters. The program results in eligibility for Dietetic Internship and Graduate Studies as well as the Nutrition Dietetic Technician Credential.
State University of New York at Buffalo
The State University of New York at Buffalo, also known as SUNY Buffalo, has about 6,400 total students, including about 5,400 undergraduates. It is spread across three campuses, with its main campus located in North Buffalo.
Each spring before finals, the university hosts Oozefest, billed as the world’s largest collegiate mud-volleyball tournament.
SUNY Buffalo offers two undergraduate tracks in nutrition science that can lead to careers as a Registered Dietitian:
- Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
The programs can be completed in four years, and students must maintain a cumulative 2.75 GPA. Classes in the major include Applied Food Chemistry, Medical Nutritional Therapy, and Dietetics Field Experience. About 75 of the 120 credit hours needed for graduation are required coursework in the major.
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is located in Terre Haute, ID, about 70 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Indiana State has a total enrollment of more than 8,600, including about 6,900 undergraduates. An annual spring event, Tandemonia, is believed to be the only tandem bicycle competition held on a U.S. college campus. It’s part of the Spring Week celebration.
Indiana State offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Wellness. The program is designed for students who want to work in the area of nutrition but do not wish to earn their RD credential. The program covers areas like:
- Community Nutrition
- Lifecycle Nutrition
- Program Planning and Evaluation
- Foods
Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of different wellness centers including health departments and supplemental nutrition programs. The program also prepares students for acceptance into graduate programs related to health and wellness.
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago is located in the central part of the city, near the Chicago Loop. The campus has a total enrollment of more than 33,700, including about 21,800 undergraduates. Spark in the Park, an annual music festival, has featured acts such as Kendrick Lamar and Nick Jonas.
The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition program at UIC is offered through the College of Applied Sciences. There are two degree paths. The pre-health career path is for students interested in working in the health professions, including physical therapy and medicine.
The RDN degree path is an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics. Students can also choose a minor in food science to prepare for entry-level careers in food chemistry, food analysis, and food product development.
University of Missouri-Columbia
The University of Missouri has the only NCAA Division I-A program in the state of Missouri, which means Mizzou’s Tigers are a big part of campus life. Missouri has a total enrollment of more than 31,000, including about 23,700 undergraduates.
The campus is almost equidistant from St. Louis and Kansas City, about a two-hour drive each way. Missouri’s home city of Columbia, MO, holds an annual Roots ‘n’ Blues ‘n’ BBQ music festival.
Missouri offers a Coordinated Program in Dietetics, a Bachelor of Science degree that includes an extensive internship in a professional setting. The program provides all the preparation necessary to take the examination to be a Registered Dietitian or dietetic nutritionist. The major calls for three years of pre-dietetics classwork and two years in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics.
After five years of coursework, students will hold both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in dietetics. A maximum of 20 students are accepted into each year’s new cohort. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 is required. Classes include:
- Nutrition Therapy
- Community Nutrition
- Food Service
University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut is located in the small town of Storrs, about 30 minutes from Hartford, CT, and 90 minutes from Boston.
The campus has an annual mud volleyball tournament called Oozeball and a popular lip-synching contest during Homecoming Week. UConn has a total enrollment of about 27,000, which includes about 18,900 undergraduates.
UConn offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences with three tracks. The Nutrition, Health, and Disease Prevention Track is for students who want a core set of nutrition courses with the freedom to add further coaches that align with their interests.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics Track is for students who aspire to become Registered Dieticians. Finally, the Pre-Medical Profession Track is for students who want to prepare for medical school or another health-related profession.
Washington State University
Washington State University is a strong choice for a student who wants the feel of a big campus but not the bustle of a big city. WSU is located in Pullman, WA, in the eastern part of the state, amid a broad, rolling green landscape known as the Palouse.
The athletic program competes in the Pac-12 Conference. Alumni include Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Nobel Prize chemist Irwin Rose, and NBA basketball star Klay Thompson.
Washington State’s College of Medicine offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. After completing the coursework, students can apply for several types of certifications offered by the American College of Sports Medicine. Graduates can work at public health agencies, fitness centers, and healthcare facilities as certified exercise physiologists or diet technicians.
Applicants to the program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. There are 63 credit hours that apply directly to the degree. In the student’s senior year, he or she can choose a track in applied exercise or community and population health. Classes include:
- Vitamin and Mineral Metabolism
- Cardiopulmonary Physiology
- Exercise, Diet, and Disease
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
North Dakota State University is a great place to bundle up. The average high temperature in May in Fargo, ND, is 64 degrees. In February, that plummets to 23. The community averages 49 inches of snow per year. There are 15 national sororities and fraternities on campus.
North Dakota State’s Thundering Herd football teams are a powerhouse in NCAA Division II. A former player, Carson Wentz, is the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
NDSU offers two tracks for students interested in a career in nutrition. The BS/MS Accelerated Coordinated Program in Nutrition Science and Dietetics leads to certification as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. It includes the required 1,000 hours of supervised practice.
A BS in Nutrition Science is also available. The program is a great choice for students seeking a pathway for an advanced degree in a health profession.
University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio has a total enrollment of more than 30,600, including about 29,000 undergraduates. UTSA has one of the most robust Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs in the nation, with more than 200 Air Force cadets. Fiesta UTSA and Best Fest are popular music, food, and cultural events.
UTSA’s College for Health, Community, and Policy offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. This is a combined program, which means a supervised off-campus internship is integrated into the coursework. Completion of the joint BS/MDS program certifies students to take the exam to become a Registered Dietitian.
Students can declare this major as sophomores. If they want to extend their studies into graduate-level work, a combined track will allow students to earn credits toward a Master of Dietetics Studies while still completing undergraduate work. Classes include:
- Applied Food Science
- Community Nutrition
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
The hometown of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell is about a half-hour drive northwest of Boston. UMass Lowell has an enrollment of about 17,200. It is one of the nation’s few public universities to offer undergraduate degrees in meteorology and nuclear engineering. Its Greek system was restored in 2012 after being banned from campus in 1987.
The Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science degree at UMass Lowell has three tracks:
- Dietetics Option
- Nutrition and Wellness Option
- General Science Option
The dietetics option prepares students to become Registered Dietitians or nutritionists; it does not include an internship program.
Business and entrepreneurship coursework is integrated into the nutrition and wellness option, which prepares students for positions in disease prevention and health promotion. The general option leans toward the science side of the field and is aimed at research professions or graduate-level learning.
This also is a strong pre-health degree that prepares students to work as a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. UMass Lowell offers a Master of Public Health Coordinated Program in Dietetics.
Classes in the bachelor’s program include:
- Lifecycle Nutrition
- Obesity and Weight Control
- Nutrition and Metabolism
Ohio State University-Main Campus
If students want the big-school experience, it’s tough to top The Ohio State University. Ohio State has more than 1,000 student organizations and clubs, an extensive Greek system, and a powerful Buckeyes athletics program that excels in multiple sports.
Ohio State offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition with three concentrations: Dietetics, Nutrition in Industry, and Nutrition Sciences. There also is a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion, Nutrition, and Exercise Science.
The degree covers a broad range of academic and professional goals, from preparing to be a Registered Dietitian to pursuing graduate studies and research in the field.
The university also offers a separate internship program for students preparing for licensure as a dietitian. Coursework requirements in the majors vary, from 54 credit hours for Nutrition in Industry to 21 credit hours for Nutrition Sciences. All have extensive additional course requirements in the sciences.
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is located in midtown Detroit. The university is named after Anthony Wayne, a U.S. congressman whose fiery personality while an officer in the American Revolutionary War earned him the nickname “Mad Anthony.”
Wayne State has an undergraduate enrollment of about 23,600 and enjoys research partnerships with Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
The nutrition and food science program at Wayne State offers two paths to a bachelor’s degree, depending on the student’s career goal. The Bachelor of Science degree is for those interested in the nutrition, food science, or health care fields. A Bachelor of Arts is aimed at students who want to take on non-technical roles in the food industry.
Each degree requires 120 semester credit hours of undergraduate coursework, which includes 71 to 72 hours of classes specific to the degree; all are offered by the university’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Classes include:
- Organic Chemistry
- Food Laws and Regulations
- Nutrition and Disease
Senior undergraduates with a GPA of 3.5 or better can qualify for Accelerated Graduate Enrollment or AGRADE. Under the program, students can apply up to 16 credit hours to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nutrition and food science.
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