Best Schools for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates earn a median of $55,668 within four years of graduating, ranking #201 out of 283 tracked majors — 11% below the median across all fields. There are 65 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 5,933 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates earn $74,005 while University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras graduates earn $40,076 — a $33,929 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates see an average 8% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$55,668

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#201

of 283 Majors

5,933

Graduates

Public vs Private: Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

Public (54 schools)

$56,416

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (11 schools)

$51,653

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services by State

Also by state: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah

Top Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Schools by Graduate Earnings

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$68,084

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

1yr: $38,909 (24)

Acceptance: 65.1%

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, NC · Public

$67,054

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 46.2%

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD · Public

$64,007

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $29,685 (13)

1yr: $30,838 (25)

Acceptance: 83.0%

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private

$63,750

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

2yr: $38,429 (11)

Acceptance: 71.4%

Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Stillwater, OK · Public

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$60,241

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

University of Central Oklahoma

Edmond, OK · Public

$60,207

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 81.8%

#11

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY · Public

$59,838

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 78.1%

#14

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

$59,501

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

2yr: $30,228 (19)

Acceptance: 76.3%

#15

Framingham State University

Framingham, MA · Public

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public

Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public

$58,631

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $25,194 (15)

Acceptance: 85.7%

#20

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX · Public

$57,742

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH · Public

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

Radford University

Radford, VA · Public

$55,422

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 90.6%

#29

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN · Public

Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX · Public

$53,716

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA · Public

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA · Public

$52,038

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

2yr: $35,416 (30)

Acceptance: 89.6%

#37

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Providence, RI · Private

Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Private

Johnson & Wales University-Online

Providence, RI · Private

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX · Public

$50,512

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

2yr: $28,019 (13)

Acceptance: 85.4%

#42

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC · Public

$48,702

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

University of Central Arkansas

Conway, AR · Public

Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public

Southern Utah University

Cedar City, UT · Public

$47,654

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Bluffton University

Bluffton, OH · Private

$47,378

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 61.2%

#48

Benedictine University

Lisle, IL · Private

University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Albuquerque, NM · Public

$46,674

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 95.5%

#50

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private

$45,554

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 51.0%

Showing top 50 of 65 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Library Science and Administration $31,751 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions $31,735 Sociology $31,614 Biological and Physical Sciences $31,551 Social Work $31,525 Behavioral Sciences $31,475

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services?

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranks #1 for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services with median graduate earnings of $74,005 within four years of graduating. There are 65 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates earn?

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates earn an average of $55,668 within four years of graduating. This is 11% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $40,076 to $74,005 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services program?

The average acceptance rate across Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services programs is 72.5%. The most selective program is at New York University with a 9.4% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services?

Private Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services programs average $51,653 in early earnings vs $56,416 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

Get Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.