Nutrition Sciences at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific's Nutrition Sciences program reports some of the strongest graduate earnings in the state—roughly $9,000 above the Washington median and nearly $5,000 above what Central Washington graduates typically earn. Among Washington's four programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, and nationally it outperforms 95% of similar programs. At $39,317 within the first year, these graduates are earning more than many entry-level healthcare support roles typically pay, suggesting either better job placement or stronger connections to higher-paying positions in clinical or corporate nutrition settings.

The debt load of $26,323 sits comfortably below the concerning threshold for this income level, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about eight months of gross salary—a manageable burden for a field that often requires additional credentials or graduate work. The debt is only slightly above state and national medians, which is reasonable given Seattle's higher cost of living and the school's private status.

The major caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, a few unusually successful alumni could be inflating these numbers. If your student is considering this program, verify these outcomes by talking directly with recent graduates about their job prospects and whether they needed additional certifications or internships to reach these earnings levels. If the numbers hold up under scrutiny, this looks like one of Washington's stronger nutrition science options.