Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services at Appalachian State University

Appalachian State's dietetics program sits in an interesting position: graduates earn less than the national median initially ($31,934 versus $33,319), yet this same performance puts them at the very top of North Carolina programs—95th percentile statewide. That stark contrast tells you something important about the state's dietetics landscape: Appalachian State is raising the bar in a state where most programs struggle to launch graduates into living wages. The $25,025 in typical debt is manageable given the trajectory, and that 42% earnings jump by year four suggests graduates are moving into better positions as they gain credentials and experience.

The challenge here is the small graduate cohort—fewer than 30 students means one or two outliers could skew these numbers significantly. That said, when you're comparing this to East Carolina's $20,900 median earnings (the state benchmark) or Western Carolina's $17,970, the advantage is too large to dismiss as statistical noise. For North Carolina families specifically, this appears to be the strongest in-state option for dietetics training.

The practical reality: dietetics typically requires supervised practice hours and often additional certification, which explains both the modest starting salary and the upward earnings curve. If your child is committed to this field and wants to stay in North Carolina, Appalachian State offers the best launching point available in-state, though they should understand they're entering a profession with moderate starting compensation that improves with experience.