Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

University of Cincinnati's dietetics program commands nearly $10,000 more in first-year earnings than the typical Ohio graduate in this field—ranking in the 93rd percentile nationally and 80th within the state. That $48,483 starting salary lands within striking distance of Ohio State's program while maintaining identical debt levels at $27,000. The 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio is notably favorable: graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary, considerably better than many health-focused programs where debt can equal or exceed annual income.

The context matters here. Dietetics programs nationally post surprisingly modest earnings for a health field (median just $33,319), making UC's performance particularly impressive. While the debt matches both state and national medians, the earnings premium transforms the value equation. Among 15 Ohio programs, only Ohio State produces meaningfully higher earners, and that $4,000 gap may not justify any additional cost or admissions selectivity differences.

For parents evaluating this path, UC offers a clear advantage: their child would enter a competitive field with earnings power in the top tier, while managing debt that's reasonable relative to income. The moderate sample size provides decent confidence in these outcomes, and the 88% admission rate makes this attainable for most qualified applicants.