Foods, Nutrition, at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's nutrition program shows impressive earnings growth, with graduates earning $48,500 by year four—a 46% jump from their starting salary. That final figure beats the national median by nearly 50% and puts grads just $14,000 behind Ohio State's outcomes. The moderate debt load of $25,330 aligns with both national and state averages, meaning your child isn't taking on unusual financial risk compared to similar programs.

The catch? Those strong year-four numbers don't tell the immediate story. Ohio University graduates start at $33,310, which sits below the state median despite ranking in the 61st percentile nationally. Among Ohio's nine nutrition programs, this one lands at the 40th percentile—meaning over half of in-state alternatives deliver higher starting salaries. If your child plans to work in Ohio after graduation, you're paying for similar debt but getting below-average initial outcomes compared to state peers.

The trajectory matters here. If your child can weather the lower starting salary—perhaps through family support or minimal lifestyle expenses in their early twenties—the strong growth curve makes this program work financially. But families counting on immediate post-graduation earnings to manage debt payments should compare carefully against higher-performing Ohio alternatives. The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, though that improves significantly if they stick with the field long enough to reach that year-four mark.