Foods, Nutrition, at Syracuse University

Syracuse's nutrition program shows a dramatic earnings trajectory that's worth examining carefully, despite the small graduate sample. Starting at just under $32,000—essentially matching both state and national medians—graduates see their earnings jump 77% to nearly $56,000 by year four. That kind of growth suggests this program opens doors to career advancement, perhaps through the clinical dietetics or corporate wellness pathways where Syracuse's alumni network is particularly strong.

The $27,000 debt load is modest for a private university (95th percentile nationally, meaning lower than 95% of similar programs) and creates a manageable starting ratio of 0.85. By year four, that debt becomes quite reasonable relative to earnings. Among New York nutrition programs, this ranks middle-of-the-pack for starting salary—right in line with SUNY Oneonta—but the mid-career trajectory appears stronger than typical state school outcomes.

The critical caveat: with fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, one exceptional graduate or one struggling cohort could skew these numbers significantly. For parents comparing this to in-state SUNY options, you're paying private tuition for similar starting outcomes but potentially better long-term prospects. If your child is committed to the field and values Syracuse's clinical partnerships and internship networks, the investment makes sense. If they're uncertain about nutrition as a career, the SUNY route offers similar early-career results with less financial risk.