Compare 5 Human Nutrition. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $48,150.
With top graduates earning $53,788, Human Nutrition stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $5K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln leads with Human Nutrition graduates earning $53,788, well above the $48,150 regional average. Ohio State follows at $48,547, while Missouri-Columbia produces graduates earning $48,179. These Midwest flagships demonstrate that strong regional publics can deliver competitive outcomes in specialized health fields.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Nebraska graduates borrow $21,000 and face just a 9.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, graduates can clear their student loans with about 5 months of salary—proving top programs can also be affordable.
Highest program earnings: $53,788
Strong outcomes with 77% acceptance
9.2% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
22.3% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $53,788 | 148 | $21,000 | Good | $25,798 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $48,547 | 74 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | High | |
| #3 | $48,179 | 55 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | High | |
| #4 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $47,277 | 22 | $22,500 | Manageable | $22,900 | High |
| #5 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $42,960 | 77 | $21,250 | Manageable | $16,378 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
