Nutrition & Dietetics Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nutrition & Dietetics degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Nutrition & Dietetics in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Nutrition & Dietetics programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/month. Nutrition & Dietetics has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Clinical Nutrition and Meal Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Riverside is approximately $59,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Nutrition & Dietetics Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nutrition & Dietetics salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Nutrition & Dietetics ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Nutrition & Dietetics degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,850
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$291,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($416,500) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Nutrition & Dietetics in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Nutrition & Dietetics
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Nutrition & Dietetics in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nutrition & Dietetics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nutrition & Dietetics Job Titles
Nutrition & Dietetics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Riverside
Pharmacy
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$81K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$60K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Nutrition & Dietetics Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.