Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other.: The DTI for this program is 69.3%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $34715) to the average debt ($24068) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 69.3%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($34715) against the typical student debt ($24068), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Wondering if Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $34715, and the average student debt is $24068, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.69—which is typical for many fields.
With an annual graduating class of 4014 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other (CIP 19.0599) is a specialized category for advanced food scientists and metabolic experts who work at the cutting edge of human health and industrial innovation. While a standard nutrition degree focuses on general dieting or clinical dietetics, professionals in this "Other" category are "Nutritional Technologists." They study nutrigenomics (how genes interact with food), functional food development, molecular gastronomy, and food security systems. It is a path for "scientific problem-solvers" who want to engineer a future where food is both a medicine and a sustainable global resource.
This field is ideal for "metabolic detectives"—individuals who are fascinated by the chemistry of what we eat and who want to apply that knowledge to sports performance, chronic disease prevention, or global food supply chain resilience.
What Is an "Other" Foods and Nutrition Degree?
A degree in this category is an applied STEM path that emphasizes biochemistry, food engineering, and specialized population health. You will study the "Nutritional Core"—biology, chemistry, and human physiology—but your focus will be on innovative or niche applications. Because this code houses emerging specialties, your studies might focus on Space Nutrition (feeding astronauts), Personalized Nutrition based on DNA, or the development of Plant-Based and Lab-Grown Proteins. It prepares you to be a "Bio-Nutritional Expert" capable of designing the next generation of human fuel.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Functional Food Scientists" who develop products with specific health-boosting properties (like probiotic-enriched foods)
- Develop experts in Metabolic Programming, focusing on how early-life nutrition affects health outcomes decades later
- Prepare professionals for Global Food Systems Management, addressing the technical challenges of feeding an urbanizing planet
- Study Sensory Science, exploring the neurological connection between taste, smell, and the psychology of eating
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that food is "information for the body"; they focus on the chemical and physiological impact of macro and micronutrients at a cellular level.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Biochemical Assays—testing food for nutrient density, toxins, and bioactive compounds
- Use "Nutritional Modeling Software" to predict how specific diets will affect blood markers and metabolic rates
- Design Fortification Strategies—adding essential vitamins and minerals to staple foods for malnourished populations
- Perform Clinical Trial Oversight—managing studies that test the efficacy of new nutritional supplements
- Utilize Food Processing Technology—understanding how heat, cold, and pressure change the nutritional profile of ingredients
- Understand Regulatory Compliance—navigating the complex FDA and international laws regarding food labeling and health claims
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a rigorous blend of hard science, data analysis, and public health:
- Nutrigenomics and Epigenetics: The study of how specific nutrients can turn certain genes on or off.
- Food Chemistry and Analysis: Breaking down the molecular structure of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
- Clinical Therapeutic Nutrition: Using highly specialized diets to manage rare metabolic disorders or recovery from surgery.
- Sustainable Food Technology: Exploring the science behind vertical farming, insect protein, and cellular agriculture.
- Sports Bioenergetics: Optimizing the timing and ratio of nutrients for elite athletic performance and recovery.
- Community Food Security: Analyzing the logistics of "Food Deserts" and the economics of nutritional access.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles as specialized researchers, product developers, and consultants in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
Common job roles include:
- R&D Food Scientist: Creating new food products that meet specific health, texture, or shelf-life requirements.
- Nutritional Consultant for Pro Sports: Designing individual "fueling programs" for professional teams or Olympic athletes.
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Ensuring that a company's new nutritional products are legal and safely labeled.
- Metabolic Health Coach: Working in high-end clinics to provide data-driven nutrition plans based on blood and genetic testing.
- Public Health Nutritionist (Specialized): Managing large-scale vitamin fortification or school lunch reform programs.
- Quality Control Manager: Overseeing the safety and nutritional consistency of large-scale food manufacturing.
Where Can You Work?
These specialists are the "chemists of the kitchen" in several high-stakes sectors:
- Consumer Goods Giants: Working for firms like Nestlé, PepsiCo, or Unilever in their health and wellness divisions.
- Biotech and Pharma Companies: Developing "Medical Foods" and supplements for patients with specific illnesses.
- Government and International Agencies: Working for the CDC, WHO, or USDA on food safety and national health guidelines.
- Tech and Wearable Startups: Helping companies like Oura or Whoop integrate nutritional data into health-tracking software.
- Elite Athletic Organizations: Working in the "Human Performance" departments of the NFL, NBA, or specialized training centers.
How Much Can You Earn?
Because of the heavy emphasis on hard science and specialized technology, earnings in this niche often exceed those of general nutritionists.
- Food Research Scientists: Median annual salary of approximately $80,000–$115,000.
- Regulatory Affairs Managers: Salaries typically range from $90,000 to $130,000+.
- Sports Nutrition Specialists (Elite): Median annual salary of around $75,000–$110,000.
- Entry-Level Lab Technicians: Often start between $55,000 and $70,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the rigorous biochemistry and organic chemistry. You cannot just "like healthy food"; you must understand the metabolic pathways and the mathematical precision required for food engineering. It requires a meticulous and data-driven mindset—you must be comfortable in a lab coat, working with pipettes and complex software. It is a major that rewards those who are "Systems Thinkers" and who enjoy the challenge of solving a health crisis through the lens of a microscope.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Are fascinated by the "Science of Life" and how small molecules change human performance
- Want to be at the center of the "Future of Food" (lab-grown meat, personalized diets, etc.)
- Enjoy working in a laboratory setting more than a traditional clinical office
- Are interested in the intersection of biology, technology, and global health
- Want a career that is "future-proof" as the world moves toward preventative, food-based medicine
How to Prepare in High School
- Take AP Biology and AP Chemistry; they are the absolute foundations of this major
- Take a Statistics class; you will need it to analyze clinical trials and nutritional data
- Volunteer at a Community Garden or Food Bank to see the social side of nutrition
- Practice Kitchen Chemistry—experiment with fermenting, dehydrating, or molecular gastronomy at home
- Read about The Gut Microbiome and its role in human health to see where the field is heading
The ability to apply biochemical logic and technological mastery to the complexities of human nutrition is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor