Nutrition Sciences at Kansas State University

Kansas State's Nutrition Sciences program delivers slightly above-average outcomes for the field, with first-year graduates earning $33,381—nearly $3,000 more than the national median and landing in the 68th percentile nationally. The debt load of $24,625 sits right at the national median for nutrition programs, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. For context, graduates would need to dedicate roughly 9 months of gross income to pay off their loans, which is reasonable compared to many bachelor's programs.

The challenge here isn't the program specifically—it's the broader economics of nutrition science careers. Even top-performing nutrition programs nationally only reach about $34,400 in first-year earnings, meaning this field generally starts at modest salary levels regardless of school choice. Kansas State performs respectably within these constraints, outearning most peer programs. The state percentile data (60th) is less meaningful here since K-State is the only school in Kansas offering this bachelor's degree, making it both the best and only in-state option.

For families committed to nutrition science, this represents a solid path with controlled debt and slightly better-than-average earnings potential. Just understand that career advancement and higher salaries in this field typically require graduate education or specialized certifications beyond the bachelor's degree.