Nutrition & Dietetics Degree in Las Cruces, NM — Salary & ROI 2026
Nutrition & Dietetics degree analysis for Las Cruces, NM. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$62K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Las Cruces
Cost of Living
123
index (100 = avg)
Nutrition & Dietetics in Las Cruces, NM Overview
Las Cruces, New Mexico (pop. 111,385) has 12 colleges offering Nutrition & Dietetics programs. The local cost of living index of 123 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,443/month. Nutrition & Dietetics has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Clinical Nutrition and Meal Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Las Cruces is approximately $61,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,554/yr
Private Tuition
$45,711/yr
Room & Board
$19,302/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,870/yr
Unemployment
6.7%
Graduation Rate
60%
Nutrition & Dietetics Salary in Las Cruces (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Las Cruces's cost of living index of 123 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nutrition & Dietetics salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Las Cruces adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Nutrition & Dietetics ROI Calculator for Las Cruces
Estimate your return on investment for a Nutrition & Dietetics degree using local Las Cruces tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,554 | Private avg: $45,711
Las Cruces avg aid: $11,870/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,450
vs HS diploma in Las Cruces
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Las Cruces
$323,076
Lifetime earnings premium ($430,500) minus total education cost ($107,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Nutrition & Dietetics in Las Cruces
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Las Cruces for Nutrition & Dietetics
New Mexico State University
public
$7,554/yr
$30,216 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dona Ana Community College
$1,848/yr
Top Employers for Nutrition & Dietetics in Las Cruces
Las Cruces offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nutrition & Dietetics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Las Cruces Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nutrition & Dietetics Job Titles
Nutrition & Dietetics in Nearby New Mexico Cities
Other Healthcare Majors in Las Cruces
Pharmacy
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$62K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$84K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$62K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$62K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$62K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$62K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Nutrition & Dietetics Degree in Las Cruces — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Nutrition & Dietetics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Las Cruces.