Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services at University of Delaware

That first-year number looks alarming, but here's what's actually happening: University of Delaware's dietetics graduates are almost certainly completing unpaid internships or low-paid clinical rotations—a standard requirement for dietitian licensure. By year four, their earnings jump to $49,413, which is reasonable for the field, though still below the national median of $33,319 for first-year dietetics graduates. The program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for earnings, suggesting other schools' graduates either skip the internship route or this program's specific career pathways lag behind peer institutions.

The $26,000 debt load is manageable relative to those eventual earnings, and Delaware students can't really shop around—this is the only bachelor's-level dietetics program in the state. That said, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year, and the weak national ranking raises questions about whether graduates are successfully landing the registered dietitian positions that justify the degree.

If your child is committed to becoming a dietitian and wants to stay in Delaware, this program can work—the debt is reasonable and earnings do materialize after the required training period. But families should understand that year one will likely mean minimal income while completing internships, and the program's graduates aren't reaching the earning levels seen at top dietetics schools nationally.