Nutrition Sciencesat California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Graduates earn $22,675/yr in their first year — about 26.0% below the national Nutrition Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $383K; scenarios range from $380K to $373K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly SLO
The financial outcomes for Nutrition Sciences at Cal Poly SLO highlight a common challenge in this field: initial roles often require further education or certification to reach higher earning potential. Many graduates aspire to become Registered Dietitians, a path that typically demands a supervised practice internship and often a Master's degree *after* your undergraduate studies, significantly extending your time to full earning capacity and adding to your educational investment.
While Cal Poly offers a robust scientific foundation, the immediate post-graduation job market in a smaller region like San Luis Obispo for entry-level nutrition roles can be quite competitive or lead to positions in public health, wellness coaching, or food service that don't command high starting salaries. The listed career paths like "Natural sciences managers" reflect advanced roles, not typical entry points from a bachelor's degree. To succeed, actively seek internships in clinical settings, community health, or the food industry while studying, and network relentlessly to understand the full educational and professional journey required for your desired career.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly SLO's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Nutrition Sciences
How Cal Poly SLO stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly SLO
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly SLO, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Nutrition Sciences at Cal Poly SLO
What does a 22/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Nutrition Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
At 22/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Nutrition Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Nutrition Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
The 44% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo a good choice for Nutrition Sciences despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.