Best Colleges For Sports Nutritionists

In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for sports nutritionists. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.

1. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

2. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

5. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

8. Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,105

Enrollment

13,729

9. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

10. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

Sports Nutritionist Education Requirements

The education needed to be a sports nutritionist is normally a bachelor's degree. Sports nutritionists usually study dietetics, food and nutrition or kinesiology. 64% of sports nutritionists hold a bachelor's degree and 16% hold a master's degree. We found these by analyzing 106 sports nutritionist resumes to investigate the topic of sports nutritionist education more precisely.

The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a sports nutritionist are Pennsylvania State University and University of Central Arkansas. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a sports nutritionist. Students have a great path to earning their sports nutritionist qualifications at the following schools:

  1. Pennsylvania State University
  2. University of Maryland - College Park
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for sports nutritionists - University of Florida is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Life University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Northwestern University, Northeastern University and New York University.

For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in sports nutritionist education paths.

What Education Do You Need To Become a Sports Nutritionist?

What degree do you need to be a Sports Nutritionist?

The most common degree for sports nutritionists is bachelor's degree 64% of sports nutritionists earn that degree. A close second is master's degree with 16% and rounding it off is associate degree with 8%.

  • Bachelors, 64%
  • Masters, 16%
  • Associate, 8%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What Should I Major in to Become a Sports Nutritionist?

Most sports nutritionists, 21% to be exact, major in dietetics. Some other common majors for a sports nutritionist include food and nutrition and kinesiology majors.

Most Common Colleges For Sports Nutritionists

Here are the most common colleges for a sports nutritionist career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in Pennsylvania State University, University of Central Arkansas, and University of Nebraska - Lincoln .

Sports Nutritionist Common CollegePercentages
Pennsylvania State University10.34%
University of Central Arkansas6.90%
University of Nebraska - Lincoln6.90%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale6.90%
Teachers College of Columbia University6.90%

Best Majors For Sports Nutritionists

RankMajorPercentages
1Dietetics21.3%
2Food And Nutrition18.7%
3Kinesiology13.3%
4Nutrition Science12.0%
5Business5.3%

20 Best Online Courses for Sports Nutritionists

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1. National Academy of Sports Medicine Nutrition Essentials

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NASM's Nutrition Coaching Essentials enables you to provide evidence-based guidance to those seeking to improve body composition, athletic performance, and health. By successfully completing this program, you will have the knowledge and abilities to leverage nutrition education to increase your client's success, reduce turnover, and maximize adherence. Held to the highest standard of research-based theory and practice, the Nutrition Essentials program teaches you how to provide nutritional...

2. Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy

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Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy offers an overview of the latest research findings and international recommendations on a variety of nutrition-related aspects and outcomes of pregnancy. Ensuring a healthy nutritional status and lifestyle prior to and during pregnancy is one of the best ways to help support the healthy growth and development of the unborn child. We will look at how a healthy diet and lifestyle should ideally be achieved prior to conception and provide recommendations for...

3. Sports Nutrition for Athletes and Fitness Enthusiasts

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Learn all about sports nutrition with 7 hours of online video content and start training SMARTER instead of HARDER...

4. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Sports Nutrition

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Learn About The Fundamentals Of Sport Nutrition Science And How To Fuel Your Athlete Client...

5. Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation

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In this course you will find a comprehensive overlook of healthy practices in public schools in the USA, including: physical activity and nutrition in the school setting. We will review the basics of some of the regulatory programs found in the United States that support healthy students through nutrition education and nutrition programs. You will be able to explain some of the nutritional components such as, alternatives to the use of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Many of these principles can be...

6. Nutrition Certification: Advanced Diet & Meal Planning

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Advanced Diet And Nutrition Coach Strategies Dieting Certificate For Meal Plans, Fat Loss, Health & Sports Nutrition...

7. Nutrition Masterclass: Build Your Perfect Diet & Meal Plan

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Learn The Truth About Nutrition, Dieting For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning, Fat Loss...

8. Fully Accredited Professional Nutritionist Diploma Course

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Complete Nutrition For All - Exploring All Elements of Nutrition. Healthy Eating & Nutrition for all ages!...

9. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan

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Learn How To Set Up A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning & Vegan Bodybuilding...

10. Health and Nutrition Life Coach Certification (Accredited)

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Life Coaching: Create a Workout & Nutrition Plan Based on Your Clients Fitness, Weight Loss, Dieting & Nutrition Goals...

11. Diet And Nutrition Coach Certification: Beginner To Advanced

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Become A Nutrition Coach: Create Muscle Growth & Fat Loss Meal Plans, Build A Fitness Diet Business & Be A Health Expert...

12. Weight Loss And Nutrition: Lose Fat & Get Your Dream Body

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Learn The Truth About Dieting For Weight Loss, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning, Fat Loss, Weight Loss Motivation...

13. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification

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Become a Vegan Nutrition Certified Health Coach, Learn Vegan Cooking, Embrace a Holistic Approach to Food...

14. Internationally Accredited Diploma Certificate in Nutrition

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Learn how to eat healthy and understand the fundamentals of nutrition science...

15. Meal Planning Masterclass: Create Your Own Meal Plan

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Save hundreds by learning how to create your own meal plan to lose fat and build muscle, while eating the food you love...

16. Ketogenic Diet: Keto Nutrition Health Coach Certification

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Keto Nutrition Certified Health Coach Specialized in the Ketogenic Diet, Ketosis (Keto) and Intermittent Fasting...

17. Superfoods, Herbalism, Nutrition Basics and Your Health

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Eat For Success. Discover Nutrition Basics For Optimal Performance and Weight Loss...

18. Diploma in Yogic Nutrition

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Understand the fundamentals of Yogic Nutrition science & Learn how to Create Yogic Diets...

19. Intermittent Fasting Diet: Full Nutrition Certification

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Intermittent Fasting 101 How To Use Intermittent Fasting For Health, Meal Plan & Maximal Weight Loss (For Men & Women)...

20. Weight Loss Coach Certification (Accredited): All Levels

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Become A Weight Loss Coach Online: Create Fat Loss Meal Plans, Build A Fitness Diet Business & Be A Health Expert...

Top 10 Affordable Universities For Sports Nutritionists

If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for sports nutritionists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

5. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,210

Cost of Attendance

14,359

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,749

Cost of Attendance

14,823

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

10. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,587

Cost of Attendance

16,915

Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Sports Nutritionists

Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,512

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

23%

SAT Average

1,398

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

30%

SAT Average

1,339

8. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,443

9. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,471

10. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,449

Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Sports Nutritionists

Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.

1. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions Rate

94%

SAT Average

979

2. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,059

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

999

10. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

72%

SAT Average

1,054

Average Sports Nutritionist Salary by Education Level

Sports nutritionists with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $53,685 annually. With a Bachelors degree, sports nutritionists earn a median annual income of $52,523.

Sports Nutritionist Education LevelSports Nutritionist Salary
Master's Degree$53,685
Bachelor's Degree$52,523