Nutrition Sciences at Central Washington University

Central Washington University's nutrition sciences graduates start below the national median at $30,113, but here's what matters more: within Washington state, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, and graduates see earnings jump 64% to nearly $50,000 by year four. That trajectory outpaces typical growth patterns for nutrition programs and suggests graduates are successfully moving into more specialized roles after gaining initial experience.

The debt picture is reasonable at $23,285—slightly below both state and national medians for this field. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77, graduates aren't carrying an outsized burden relative to their first-year income. The real question is whether families can manage that first year when earnings are modest. Washington's nutrition field appears competitive but accessible, with CWU positioned in the middle of the pack behind Seattle Pacific but ahead of Bastyr by the first-year mark.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, which means one person's career path can skew the numbers significantly. If your student is passionate about nutrition and willing to start at entry-level wages, CWU offers an affordable entry point with solid earnings potential by year four. Just don't treat these figures as guaranteed—the small sample makes them more directional than definitive.