What Jobs Can You Get with a Nutrition Degree?
Explore a wide range of careers in nutrition, from clinical dietitians and community nutritionists to culinary experts and sports nutrition professionals. This guide breaks down each role, daily tasks, and career settings to help you find the best fit in the nutrition field.
FAQS
Should I Choose a Campus or Online Program?
How will you know if an online or campus based program is for you? There are a few questions one should ask themselves when deciding between an online or campus based degree program for their education:
- Are you able to get to a campus easily? Either because of distance, commute times or previous obligations such as family or work that will not allow you to attend classes at their scheduled time?
- What is your learning style? Do you excel on your own? Do you require a good degree of personal help? Are you better off on your own pace or do you thrive in a group environment? What is your degree goal? Do you want to work in a group environment when you finish? These are all questions important to ask regarding whether you may prefer a class setting or to study on your own.
- What degrees are available online? Unfortunately, this situation may dictate part of your choice for you. Many degrees in scientific fields require labs or other types of courses that must be taken at a campus location. However, many times the majority of the degree can be taken online while the specific campus classes are scheduled when and where possible. This should be looked into when deciding on your degree.
- What are you employment goals? Is this the type of degree that your future employer is looking for? If your employer looks highly on either campus-based or online degrees, you may be able to offer them the type of experience they are looking for. Research into future employment can predict how you’re your chosen degree may affect your job prospects.
How Can I Pay For a Nutrition Degree?
Federal Financial Aid Information
Federal financial aid or tuition assistance programs are a popular and intelligent way to fund your nutrition education or Nutritionist or Dietitian career training. Available in three types, federal student aid will come in the form of either:
- Grants
- Work-study programs
- Loans
Applicants must all fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application, available online and due by the spring before you start school, will provide a Student Aid Report (SAR) and individuals financial aid eligibility rating.
All FAFSA forms must be submitted to each school where you plan to study. When looking at different nutrition, public health or related degrees, it is important to note the cost and availability of funds for that degree.
Grant Information
Federal and private education grants for nutrition degrees provide funding to students or their institutions to help cover tuition and related costs. Grants are awarded based on financial need and do not require repayment. These funds are primarily available to undergraduate students and include the following options:
- Pell Grants: As of the 2024–2025 academic year, eligible students can receive up to $7,395 annually.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Award amounts range from $100 to $4,000 per year, depending on financial need and institutional funding.
- State Grants: Many states offer need-based or merit-based grants. Students should check with their state’s higher education agency for eligibility and application details.
Federal Work-Study Program
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for education expenses. The program is available at many accredited colleges and universities, including those offering nutrition-related degrees. Students typically work on campus or with approved off-campus employers. Wages vary but are at least the federal minimum wage, and annual earnings depend on the student’s award amount and hours worked.
Nutrition Scholarships
Educational Scholarships, ranging from small sums of money up to the full cost of tuition and more, are based on financial need, academic merit, professional goals or any variety of additional criteria set by thousands of Nutrition, Dietetic, Public Health or other organizations across North America providing theses scholarships.
Requirements are vast, including minimum academic requirements, intended major field of study, heritage, or group membership, past experience, and much more. Educational institutions, state and local governments, private companies, social groups, and individuals within the nutrition and healthcare industries and communities provide these scholarships at different times throughout each school year.
Although there are no federally awarded scholarships based on academic merit, most full tuition scholarships are awarded to students by the college or university for which they attend. Check with the schools provided on this website for information regarding scholarships for their institutions. Additionally, there are literally hundreds of links to information about Nutrition and Dietetic associations and groups across North America from which to find a vast amount of information about scholarships in the nutrition fields.
Student Education Loans
Many public and private institutions including banks, financial institutions, non-profit and government organizations provide low- and medium-interest loans to students and their families. Federal and state governments also provide other various types of student loans. These are based primarily on student and family financial need. This information is important and should be provided to an applicant’s loan institution with a significant amount of time for processing before the loan payment is needed.
Federal loans are typically distributed through the institution where the student is enrolled. This is not necessary, however. Students may receive this money from the federal government, non-profit lending institution, private lender, or bank directly as well. Additionally, applicants should request information from the Department of Education regarding loans such as the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and others with specific guidelines.
Stafford Loans
Subsidized Stafford Loans are available only to undergraduate students with financial need. Graduate and professional students are eligible only for Unsubsidized Direct Loans. Students should visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website for the latest information on interest rates and eligibility. Borrowers with federal student loans typically enter repayment six months after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment. Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and PLUS Loans are repaid over 10 to 30 years, depending on the repayment plan selected.
Employer Tuition Support Programs
All students and applicants are also encouraged to check with their employers about the tuition assistance programs as part of their employee benefits package. Eligibility requirements vary, so students should check with their state department of education, employer and college or university.
Military GI Bill
Those in the United States Armed Forces are eligible for various tuition assistance and loan repayment programs designed especially for our military personnel. There is a Handbook with information for all military personnel called “Job Opportunities in the Armed Forces”. for more information please also go to the US Government’s Military websites.
Food Science vs Nutritional Sciences vs Dietetics: Whats the Difference?
- Food Science focuses on the study of food’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, including how it is processed and preserved.
- Nutritional Sciences examines how food affects human health, exploring areas like metabolism, disease prevention, and dietary behavior.
- Dietetics is the clinical application of nutrition knowledge to support individual and public health, and becoming a registered dietitian requires advanced education, a supervised internship, licensure, and ongoing certification.
Where Can Nutritionists Work?
Areas Of Practice
Nutritionists are found in all areas of health and wellness organizations throughout the US and the world. Most common among them, yet not limited to, would be:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics
- Community clinics
- Long and short-term care facilities
- Community support agencies
- Research institutes
- Retail nutrition and wellness centers
- Private communities
- Educational institutions
- Hospitality including hotels and resorts
- Consulting companies and agencies
- Government agencies
What are the daily tasks for various Nutritionists and Dietitians?
The day-to-day activities in the nutritional field vary wildly depending on the area of expertise and specific location of practice. In general, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nutritionists and Registered Dietitians “plan food and nutrition programs, supervise meal preparation, and oversee the serving of meals. They prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modifications.”
Clinical Nutritionists and Dietitians, those working in hospitals, clinics and long and short term care facilities, focus on patients who’s primary illnesses can range from diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, or obesity to routine operations and hospital stays due to illness or injury. This environment means working closely with physicians, nurses and other medical specialists as a team to treat patients. Those interested in a hospital or care facility environments would be urged to learn more about the facilities in their area.
Community Nutritionists and Dietitians work primarily in public health clinics, health and human services agencies, and private community clinics counseling individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote health. Working in places such as public health clinics, home health agencies and health maintenance organizations, community Nutritionists and Dietitians review their patients needs and prepare nutritional recommendations to fit their specific needs and lifestyles.
Additionally, nutrition professionals can consult on regular daily activities such as food shopping and preparation to the elderly, children, and patients or clients with special needs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “increased public interest in nutrition has led to job opportunities in food manufacturing, advertising, and marketing. In these areas, dietitians analyze foods, prepare literature for distribution, or report on issues such as dietary fiber, vitamin supplements, or the nutritional content of recipes.”
Management Nutritionists and Dietitians spend their days primarily in health care facilities, cafeterias, prisons, and schools. A position as a Management Nutritionist or Dietitian can be very rewarding, as the job specifications entail managing large groups of food service professionals in a fast-past, demanding environment. Preparing meals for large groups of people on a daily basis can involve not only food preparation but the coordination of a staff of workers, supply orders and accounting.
Consultant Nutritionists and Dietitians, on the other hand, work primarily with health care facilities or for a private practice. These professionals perform client nutritional screenings and prescribe diet-related advice for the alleviation of ailments such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
What are the character traits of a good Nutritionist or Dietitian?
Enjoying the work you do can certainly help you to become good at it. Those who feel personally rewarded by helping others may find a career in nutrition appealing. A confident and reassuring demeanor can be very helpful when working with a reluctant patient. Good interpersonal skills are a must as a Nutritionist or Dietitian must work closely with patients, as well as doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in order to do meet the demands of each patient or client, depending on their specific needs.
Nutrition specialists must refer to their profession as a science that has advanced over many years. Using a scientific method to including the latest research in nutrition is absolutely crucial to being a good Nutritionist or Dietitian. An ongoing willingness and ability to learn the very latest in this science is expected in order to stay on top of the latest research and professional practices.