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Nutrition Sciences at University of Massachusetts - Lowell

MA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 30.19

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Nutrition Sciences degree from University of Massachusetts - Lowell earn a median salary of $65,054 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $43,896. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.1 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$48,829

Typical Career

$65,054

Top Performers

$81,462

Estimated break-even: 8.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$434

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,421. Most students can comfortably afford about a $434 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Massachusetts buys what costs $1.48 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 19.1%
Health Care & Social Assistance 17.8%
Manufacturing 12.8%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$43,896

Nominal: $65,054 in Massachusetts (COL 148.2% of national avg) · 32.5% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

8.1 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $26,170 $36,215 $49,057
5 Years After Graduation $48,829 $65,054 $81,462
10 Years After Graduation $55,935 $76,015 $116,180

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $65,054 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MA, which has a cost-of-living index of 148.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $65,054 × (1.0 ÷ 1.4820) = $43,896 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Massachusetts - Lowell experience a positive earnings trajectory, with median earnings of $36,215 one year after graduation, rising to $65,054 five years later, and reaching $76,015 after ten years. However, considering the cost of living in Massachusetts, which has a COL index of 1.482 compared to the national average of 1.0, the purchasing-power-adjusted salary five years post-graduation is approximately $43,896.09, indicating that while earnings increase, the cost of living may impact overall financial comfort.

The primary industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (19.1%), Health Care & Social Assistance (17.8%), and Manufacturing (12.8%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 8.1 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for a degree in Nutrition Sciences appears favorable. This suggests that while initial earnings may be modest, the long-term financial benefits and career opportunities in relevant industries can justify the investment in higher education.

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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.