Cheapest Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Colleges in California

The cost gap between California's most and least expensive dietetics programs reaches $46,055 annually, with public universities dominating the affordable end while a single private institution commands premium pricing. Cal State LA offers the state's lowest net cost at $4,113, making nutrition education accessible even in California's high-cost environment. These programs feed directly into California's massive healthcare system and food industry, where registered dietitians work across major hospital networks like Kaiser Permanente and UCLA Health. Graduation rates span from 50% to 85%, with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo leading despite charging $15,624 net cost.

Programs

$4,113 – $50,168

Net Price Range

$29,947

Avg. Program Earnings

66.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

10 Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$4,113	$6,813	52.6%	86.9%
2	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918	$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
3	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
4	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
5	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
6	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$13,741	$7,992	64.7%	76.7%
7	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$14,838	$8,064	63.6%	95.0%
8	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$15,624	$11,075	85.2%	30.4%
9	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
10	Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, California	$50,168	$43,550	73.8%	81.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Cal State LA's $4,113 net cost so much lower than other programs?

Cal State LA serves a high percentage of low-income students who qualify for maximum federal and state aid, including Cal Grants that cover full tuition. The university's location in East LA also draws students from communities that receive substantial need-based assistance.

How do graduation rates compare between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Point Loma Nazarene charges $50,168 but achieves a 73.8% graduation rate, while Cal State LA costs $4,113 with a 52.6% rate. However, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo demonstrates that high performance doesn't require high costs, posting an 85.2% graduation rate at $15,624.

Do earnings justify the cost differences between these programs?

Early-career earnings range from $25,194 to $34,259 across all programs, showing relatively modest variation despite huge cost gaps. Cal State Long Beach graduates earn the highest at $34,259 while maintaining reasonable costs at $8,931 net price.

Where do California dietetics graduates typically find employment?

Major healthcare systems like Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, and Stanford Health Care hire extensively in clinical nutrition roles. California's massive agriculture sector and food processing industry also create opportunities in community nutrition and food service management.

More Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Rankings

Best Value Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services in California Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Under $20,000 in California

All Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Programs Best Colleges in California Best Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services in California

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.