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Family & Consumer Sciences · Nutrition & Food Science Rank #9 of 38

Nutrition & Food Scienceat Ohio State University-Main Campus

Graduates earn $34,540/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Nutrition & Food Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $581K; scenarios range from $530K to $589K depending on AI disruption.

Columbus, OH Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
51 AVERAGE
52
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,540
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$581K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ohio State

Ohio State's program in Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services stands out, leveraging the university's strong reputation and its prime location in Columbus. As a large public institution, OSU benefits from extensive alumni networks and robust recruiting pipelines into diverse sectors across the state. The Columbus metro area offers a dynamic job market, from major healthcare systems like OhioHealth and Mount Carmel, to corporate wellness programs, and a thriving food industry, all creating strong demand for skilled nutrition professionals. This variety, coupled with the "Related Services" aspect of the curriculum, likely allows graduates to pursue roles beyond traditional dietetics, such as food product development or public health education, contributing to solid career prospects.

Given the high AI risk in this field, your success will increasingly depend on cultivating uniquely human skills. Focus on developing strong interpersonal communication, empathetic coaching abilities, and leadership in food service management. These are the areas where human connection remains irreplaceable, even as AI handles more routine tasks. Seek internships and experiential learning opportunities to build these critical skills and make connections in your chosen niche.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$530K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple10.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$581K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple11.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$589K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ohio State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Nutrition & Food Science graduates typically work

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.

1
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$77,280/yr
High
2
Dietitians and nutritionists
+5.5% 10-yr growth · 6,200 openings/yr
$73,850/yr
High
3
Food service managers
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 42,000 openings/yr
$65,310/yr
Moderate
4
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
+6.0% 10-yr growth · 183,900 openings/yr
$42,010/yr
High
5
Dietetic technicians
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$37,040/yr
High
6
Cooks, institution and cafeteria
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 69,700 openings/yr
$36,450/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Nutrition & Food Science

How Ohio State stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Texas Woman's University
TX · Public
58
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
12.4x
ROI
Top score
Framingham State University
MA · Public
61
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
12.3x
ROI
University of Missouri-Columbia
MO · Public
56
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
9.4x
ROI
Texas State University
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
10.6x
ROI
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$36K
1-yr earn
12.8x
ROI
Also at Ohio State

Other top programs at Ohio State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ohio State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Nutrition & Food Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Nutrition & Food Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Nutrition & Food Science at Ohio State

What does a 51/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Nutrition & Food Science at Ohio State University-Main Campus?

At 51/100, Ohio State University-Main Campus's Nutrition & Food Science program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Nutrition & Food Science at Ohio State University-Main Campus?

The 45% 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 Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the best schools for Nutrition & Food Science?

Among 38 Nutrition & Food Science programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's #9 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.