Nutrition & Dietetics Degree in Upper Darby, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nutrition & Dietetics degree analysis for Upper Darby, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Upper Darby
Cost of Living
94.5
index (100 = avg)
Nutrition & Dietetics in Upper Darby, PA Overview
While Upper Darby has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Nutrition & Dietetics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,171/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Nutrition & Dietetics has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Clinical Nutrition and Meal Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Upper Darby is approximately $47,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$15,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,595/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
70%
Nutrition & Dietetics Salary in Upper Darby (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Upper Darby's cost of living index of 94.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nutrition & Dietetics salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Upper Darby adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Nutrition & Dietetics ROI Calculator for Upper Darby
Estimate your return on investment for a Nutrition & Dietetics degree using local Upper Darby tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Upper Darby avg aid: $12,595/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$118,684
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,175
vs HS diploma in Upper Darby
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Upper Darby
$212,066
Lifetime earnings premium ($330,750) minus total education cost ($118,684)
Student Loan Payoff for Nutrition & Dietetics in Upper Darby
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Upper Darby for Nutrition & Dietetics
Upper Darby State University
public
$16,192/yr
$64,768 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Upper Darby Community College
$5,336/yr
Top Employers for Nutrition & Dietetics in Upper Darby
Upper Darby offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nutrition & Dietetics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Upper Darby Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nutrition & Dietetics Job Titles
Nutrition & Dietetics in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$75K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Upper Darby
Pharmacy
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$64K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$47K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$47K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Nutrition & Dietetics Degree in Upper Darby — 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 Upper Darby.