Compare 41 Human Nutrition. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $54,599. Top programs: $74,005+.
With top graduates earning $74,005, Human Nutrition stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $19K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 41 ranked programs nationally, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
Virginia Tech's Human Nutrition program leads with graduates earning $74,005—well above the $54,599 field average. The rankings reinforce a familiar pattern: regional publics dominate. North Carolina A&T (ranked #3) delivers $67,054 in median earnings at a net price of just $8,223, outperforming many larger, better-known institutions on actual graduate outcomes.
Debt burden separates a good program from a great investment. CUNY Hunter College graduates borrow just $11,000 in student loans and face a 4.0% payment burden—firmly in the 'Excellent' tier. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of post-grad income of nearly $60K. For families factoring in parent loans, Hunter's 12.6% combined burden also lands in the 'Manageable' range. Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →: https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs
Highest program earnings: $74,005
Strong outcomes ($74,005) with 55% acceptance rate
4.0% payment burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
12.6% family burden | Manageable — payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $74,005 | 252 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #2 | University Of DelawarePublic | $68,084 | 17 | $24,572 | Excellent | $43,000 | Challenging |
| #3 | $67,054 | 13 | $27,000 | Good | $20,004 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $64,105 | 18 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Morgan State UniversityPublic | $64,007 | 16 | $27,250 | Good | $22,000 | Manageable |
| #6 | $63,750 | 7 | $26,778 | Good | $35,625 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $61,369 | 83 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $61,092 | 163 | $21,000 | Excellent | $25,798 | Challenging | |
| #9 | University Of IdahoPublic | $60,241 | 21 | $21,982 | Excellent | $21,162 | Manageable |
| #10 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | $59,864 | 21 | $11,000 | Excellent | $20,252 | Manageable |
| #11 | $59,838 | 10 | $22,500 | Good | $14,685 | Manageable | |
| #12 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $59,501 | 20 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Challenging |
| #13 | $59,202 | 40 | $25,000 | Good | $20,284 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $59,184 | 37 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Challenging |
| #15 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $58,871 | 64 | $21,250 | Good | $16,378 | Manageable |
| #16 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $58,631 | 18 | $21,250 | Good | $11,359 | Manageable |
| #17 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $58,038 | 19 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | High |
| #18 | $57,859 | 82 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $57,742 | 8 | $23,409 | Good | $18,080 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $57,002 | 177 | $22,750 | Good | $48,666 | High | |
| #21 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $55,633 | 57 | $22,500 | Good | $30,006 | Challenging |
| #22 | Radford UniversityPublic | $55,422 | 6 | $24,000 | Good | $22,158 | Challenging |
| #23 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $55,275 | 50 | $21,500 | Good | $28,086 | Challenging |
| #24 | Cedar Crest CollegePrivate | $54,330 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
| #25 | $54,070 | 37 | $20,000 | Good | $14,229 | Manageable |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
