Nutrition Sciences at College of Saint Benedict

The most striking feature of this program isn't immediately obvious: graduates see a 78% earnings jump between year one and year four, climbing from $28,402 to $50,626. That trajectory suggests many students are initially taking entry-level positions but quickly moving into better-paying roles—perhaps as registered dietitians after completing additional certification requirements. The program's debt load of $26,572 is actually lower than many similar programs nationally (25th percentile), and by year four, the debt-to-earnings picture looks quite reasonable.

However, those first-year earnings trail both the Minnesota state median ($30,539) and the national average ($30,508) for nutrition sciences programs, placing this in the 40th percentile among Minnesota's five nutrition programs. With an extremely open admissions rate of 91% and relatively low average SAT scores, the program appears to serve a broader student population, which may explain the initially modest outcomes. The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means a few outlier students could be skewing these numbers in either direction.

For families who can manage the lean first year financially, the strong earnings growth makes this a defensible choice, especially given the below-average debt burden. Just understand you're betting on that four-year trajectory rather than immediate post-graduation earnings, and recognize these numbers may not perfectly represent future cohorts given the limited data.