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Dietetics

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)]

Types of Degrees Dietetics Majors Are Earning

Those studying Dietetics may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	15
Associate’s Degree	86
Bachelor’s Degree	1,685
Master’s Degree	1,236
Doctor’s Degree	6

What Dietetics Majors Need to Know

Programs in Dietetics emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Dietetics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Dietetics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Therapy and Counseling — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Dietetics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Dietetics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Dietetics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.0 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.0 / 7
Working with Computers	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Dietetics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
The Nutrition Company FoodWorks	Analytical or scientific software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
CyberSoft NutriBase	Data base user interface and query software	—
ValuSoft MasterCook	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
ESHA Research The Food Processor	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro	Analytical or scientific software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Dietetics graduates include:

• Menu Planner
• Nutrition Coordinator
• Nutrition Counselor
• Dietary Aide
• Research Dietitian
• Nutritionist
• Consultant Dietitian
• Sports Nutritionist
• Teaching Dietitian
• Registered Dietician
• Dietist
• Clinical Nutritionist
• Clinical Dietitian
• Diet Counselor
• Outpatient Dietitian

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Dietetics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share 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%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Dietetics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 88.3% of Dietetics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	2,673	88.3%
Men	355	11.7%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Dietetics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1,982	65.5%
Asian	156	5.2%
Hispanic or Latino	433	14.3%
Black or African American	196	6.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	13	0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.1%
Two or More Races	104	3.4%
Race Unknown	47	1.6%
International Students	94	3.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Dietetics Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Dietetics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$43,296
4 years	$49,100
5 years	$54,879

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $54,879 — roughly 27% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Dietetics Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Dietetics. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	1
Bachelor’s	7	7
Master’s	20	10

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Dietetics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Dietetics graduates earn a median of $49,100 four years after completion — roughly 29% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	5,186
Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist	919
Dietitian Assistant	615
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other	465
Dietetic Technician	159

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.