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Therapeutic dietitian education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a therapeutic dietitian. Therapeutic dietitians usually study dietetics, food and nutrition, or business. 88% of therapeutic dietitians hold a bachelor's degree, and 8% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 34 real therapeutic dietitian resumes to see exactly what therapeutic dietitian education sections show.
The most common colleges for therapeutic dietitians are the University of Delaware and the University of Delaware.
There are also many online therapeutic dietitian courses to help get the education required to be a therapeutic dietitian.
What education do you need to become a therapeutic dietitian?
What degree do you need to be a therapeutic dietitian?
- Bachelor's, 88%
- Master's, 8%
- Associate, 4%
What should I major in to become a therapeutic dietitian?
- Dietetics, 48%
- Food And Nutrition, 31%
- Business, 3%
- Other Majors, 15%
Most common colleges for therapeutic dietitians
| Therapeutic dietitian common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Delaware | 22.22% |
| City College of New York of the City University of New York, The | 5.56% |
| Spalding University | 5.56% |
| New York University | 5.56% |
| Marywood University | 5.56% |
Best majors for therapeutic dietitians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dietetics | 48.3% |
| 2 | Food And Nutrition | 31.0% |
| 3 | Business | 3.4% |
| 4 | Secondary Education And Teaching | 3.4% |
| 5 | Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology | 3.4% |
Best colleges for therapeutic dietitians
The best colleges for therapeutic dietitians are Northeastern University, Case Western Reserve University, and New York University.
A therapeutic dietitian with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for therapeutic dietitians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become therapeutic dietitians.
1. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
2. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
3. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
4. University of Delaware
Newark, DE • Private
In-state tuition
$13,680
Enrollment
19,060
5. Ohio State University
Columbus, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$10,726
Enrollment
45,769
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. California State University - Chico
Chico, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,608
Enrollment
16,317
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
9. Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$9,080
Enrollment
30,795
10. Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$14,460
Enrollment
39,208
20 best online courses for therapeutic dietitians
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1. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
2. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
3. Nutrition Certification: The Correct Dieting & Meal PLaning
Master Nutrition/ Dieting for healthy Weight Loss & Building Muscles (Adapt with COVID-19)...
4. Fully Accredited Certification in Nutrition & Diet Planning
Learn how to make fitness diet & meal plans Become a Professional Nutrition Coach with International Certification...
5. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course
The Palliative Care Always Capstone course is designed to let you test your knowledge about palliative and help others understand the value of palliative care, while showing your creative side. In this course, you will impact community awareness about palliative care, promote self-care and wellness, show-off your communication skills in a virtual environment, and finish the course off by proving your thoughts on ways to offer psychosocial support to a patient and family...
6. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
7. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan
Learn How To Set Up A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning & Vegan Bodybuilding...
8. Nutrition Certification: Advanced Diet & Meal Planning
Advanced Diet And Nutrition Coach Strategies Dieting Certificate For Meal Plans, Fat Loss, Health & Sports Nutrition...
9. Trauma Emergencies and Care
Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...
10. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care
In this course, you will be able to develop a systems view for assessing and managing pain in the palliative care setting. By the end of the course, you will be able to: 1) Describe the pain problem in the palliative care setting; 2) Assess a person’s pain, 3) Explain the benefits of integrative therapies and pharmacologic strategies to manage pain...
11. Nutrition Certification Diploma: Diet Planning & Meal Prep
Become A Nutrition Expert: Create Muscle Growth & Fat Loss Meal Plan Dieting Certificate For Health & Sports Nutrition...
12. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Diet Planning
Learn how to Create Your Clients(or your)perfect diet and nutrition plan based on their goals, preferences and lifestyle...
13. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children
Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...
14. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...
15. Ketogenic Diet: Keto Nutrition Health Coach Certification
Keto Nutrition Certified Health Coach Specialized in the Ketogenic Diet, Ketosis (Keto) and Intermittent Fasting...
16. Nutrition Masterclass: Build Your Perfect Diet & Meal Plan
Learn The Truth About Nutrition, Dieting For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning, Fat Loss...
17. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...
18. Nutrition for Inflammation - The Anti-inflammatory Diet
Heal Your Body Using Food as Medicine...
19. Providing Trauma-Informed Care
Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...
20. Intermittent Fasting Diet: Full Nutrition Certification
Intermittent Fasting 101 How To Use Intermittent Fasting For Health, Meal Plan & Maximal Weight Loss (For Men & Women)...
Top 10 most affordable universities for therapeutic dietitians
The most affordable schools for therapeutic dietitians are University of Florida, brigham young university, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for therapeutic dietitians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for therapeutic dietitians.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
6. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
8. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
San Juan, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
11,299
9. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
10. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Cost of attendance
24,514
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for therapeutic dietitians
The hardest universities for therapeutic dietitians to get into are Northeastern University, Case Western Reserve University, and New York University.
Some great schools for therapeutic dietitians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for therapeutic dietitians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,443
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
4. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,390
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
Admissions rate
30%
SAT average
1,339
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,309
10. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
Admissions rate
49%
SAT average
1,345
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for therapeutic dietitians
The easiest schools for therapeutic dietitians to get into are Life University, texas woman's university, and d'youville college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a therapeutic dietitian without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for therapeutic dietitians.
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. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
4. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
5. Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,062
6. St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
Admissions rate
73%
SAT average
1,124
7. Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,019
8. California State University - Chico
Chico, CA • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,092
9. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
10. Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
79%
SAT average
1,075
Average therapeutic dietitian salary by education level
| Therapeutic dietitian education level | Therapeutic dietitian salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $70,854 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $68,680 |
Therapeutic dietitian education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025