Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services at CUNY Queens College

CUNY Queens College's nutrition program offers something most comparable programs can't match: very low debt with competitive earnings. At just $13,004 in median debt—well below the national average of $24,497 for this field—graduates start with minimal financial burden. That early-career salary of $36,903 matches New York's state median and exceeds the national benchmark, meaning you're getting middle-of-the-pack earnings without the typical debt load.

The 28% earnings growth to $47,059 by year four is noteworthy in a field where many graduates pursue required internships and additional credentials before seeing significant salary increases. While Queens College doesn't quite reach the earnings of D'Youville or Buffalo State, it comes remarkably close, and those schools likely saddle students with considerably more debt. For a CUNY program serving nearly half first-generation college students, this represents solid workforce preparation.

The practical advantage here is flexibility: with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, graduates can more easily afford unpaid or low-paid dietetic internships required for RD certification without crushing loan payments. If your child is pursuing registered dietitian status, Queens College provides the credential at minimal cost while positioning them for standard industry earnings. That's a functional path into the profession.