Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services at Illinois State University

Illinois State University's dietetics program graduates start around $38,400—putting them $4,000 ahead of the typical Illinois dietetics graduate and $5,000 above the national median. Among the state's 10 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, outperforming Northern Illinois by nearly $8,500 annually. That earnings advantage is real, though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means individual outcomes vary more than at larger programs.

The debt picture strengthens the case: graduates leave with $18,892 in loans, well below both the state median ($24,369) and national median ($24,497) for dietetics programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 means you're borrowing less than half a year's salary—manageable territory for entry-level healthcare work. For a field that typically requires supervised practice hours before full credentialing, starting with lower debt gives graduates flexibility during their internship phase.

The tradeoff is the limited data. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift considerably year to year. But the fundamentals look solid: earnings above benchmarks, debt below them, and an 89% admission rate that makes this accessible to most applicants. For Illinois families seeking an affordable path into nutrition services, this program delivers strong value despite the statistical uncertainty.