What to Expect
Tuition/Fees
Ӱ should consult the Ӱ Cost of Attendance for Standard Graduate Programs for a complete picture about the financial demands for school, which should take into consideration your living expenses, transportation, etc. The cost of tuition will vary based on whether or not you are a Ӱresident.
Our program has 3, full-time semesters during the academic year and two summer sessions. You can look at “Graduate and Post-Bacc Fees” on the Ӱ Tuition and Fees website for specific cost breakdowns by semester in fall and spring. Summer tuition cost is based on unit totals and the GP estimates can be obtained be looking at the State-Support Graduate Fee Schedule.
Based on the 2024-25 current rates, a rough estimate of total tuition/fees for a GP student who lives off campus would be:
In-State Tuition & Fees | Out-Of-State Tuition & Fees | |
Spring #1 (12 units, full-time) | $4,451 | In-State + (12 * $420/unit) = $9,491 |
Summer #1 (8 units) | $3,338 | In-State + (8 * $420/unit) = $6,698 |
Fall #1(12 units, full-time) | $4,451 | In-State + (12 * $420/unit) = $9,491 |
Spring #2 (12 units, full-time) | $4,451 | In-State + (12 * $420/unit) = $9,491 |
Summer #2 (3 units) | $1,867 | In-State + (3 * $420/unit) = $3,127 |
Program Total | $18,558 | $38,298 |
Note that this is simply an estimate and not a guarantee of program costs, as fees may vary depending on your personal circumstances and financial aid situation. Our program will require commuting to supervised learning sites, and fees related to car maintenance, fueling, and parking are not part of these estimates.
Professional Expenses
The following expenses are expected to occur annually:
Medical Insurance | $350 |
Liability Insurance ‑ approximate cost | $70 |
Criminal background check | ~$70 |
Drug tests (as required by facilities) | ~$50 |
Affiliate student membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | $58 |
Local District Membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics(s) | $10 – 20 |
Personal Transportation to and from on‑site rotation experiences / yr. Amount does not include car payments, insurance, parking, or vehicle maintenance | $3,000 |
Variable expenses - housing/meals These will vary greatly depending on if you live at home, with roommates, or alone. If you prepare your own meals vs. eating out, meal expenses will also vary greatly. Ӱ provides the following number as estimates. If you would like more details, please review the Cost of Attendance page. | Varies $11,000- $22,000 |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment The average cost of books, course materials, supplies, and equipment per academic year. It may also include materials used in teaching (e.g. photo copies, markers, small food samples, etc). The higher end of the range includes the cost of a computer, as students will be expected to have a functioning laptop for in-class and supervised learning. |
$500-$1500 |
Registration/attendance at nutrition conferences/ seminars | ~$400-$1,000 |
Varies: Professional clothing and appropriate shoes for supervised experiential learning If your wardrobe is primarily casual, you may need to invest in business casual clothing appropriate for the dress code that GP students must follow, often dictated by the facilities where they earn their supervised practice hours. Please take a look at the Professional Attire section of the Student Handbook for details. | Varies by personal preference $100-$300 |
The following one-time expenses will also be expected:
- Physical Examination & Immunizations - $300
- Lab coat - $45
Professional Meetings and Events
In keeping with the mission of the GP at Ӱ, which promotes service to diverse populations and advocacy for good in their workplaces and communities, students will be expected to pay for registration and attendance meetings of the ӰAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND), Los Angeles or Orange County District Districts, or the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition (FNCE), if held locally in Southern California. Ӱ must attend at least three meetings that are approved for professional CEUs. Ӱ must submit a double-spaced, typed report summarizing the meeting and significant lessons learned (about 1 page) for each meeting attended. These reports will be due during the student’s final Exit interview in NUTR 520. Furthermore, it is the policy of the GP that all students maintain student membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) for the duration of their time in the program. Proof of this will be required during orientation week.
Attendance at CAND meetings and other seminars, medical rounds, in‑service programs, and continuing education activities may occur as part of the student’s community SEL in legislation and with non-profit organizations. If so, attendance at these meetings may count toward the meetings students are expected to attend.
Ӱ will also have opportunities to develop and/or participate in GP projects that support public outreach and recruitment into the GP or may involve assistance with campus student organizations or non-profit/community organizations. These opportunities may occur throughout the year or in tandem with publicly recognized holidays or events, such as nutrition education outreach during March (National Nutrition Month).
Ӱ are encouraged but not required to attend the national food conference FNCE, hosted by the AND, with attendance often exceeding 10,000 Academy members. The city for FNCE changes every year, and the meeting has registration, transportation, food, and lodging costs that students would need to cover. While not required, attendance is highly encouraged, as it provides a signature opportunity to meet and connect with fellow professionals and expand student perspectives on opportunities for good in the field. The Academy of Nutrition and Deietetics also provides for associated with attending.
Financial Aid
Since the GP is a university graduate program, many students are eligible for financial aid throughout their studies. Numerous types of financial assistance are available on campus. Don't hesitate to get in touch with the Ӱ Office of Financial Aid at (562) 985-8403 or visit the financial aid website to explore the various types of aid available (e.g., grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study). Program costs vary depending on whether or not you are a Ӱresident. Ӱ has a history of providing a significant amount of financial aid to students.
While our program starts in January, FAFSA priority deadlines are usually in the spring beforehand. So, if you think you may be applying, be sure to complete your submission in the year beforehand.
After you are enrolled as a student, you may also contact the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Office for other sources of funding. These may be in the form of traineeships, assistantships, or scholarships from local, state, and national organizations.
Scholarships
In addition to financial aid, students are also encouraged to explore the website which collects, organizes, and distributes information on hundreds of external and internal scholarships.
The offers scholarships to encourage eligible students to enter the field of dietetics. For more information, see the section of their website to find applications and see a list of past recipients. Note that they have both graduate-specific applications as well as specialty applications under Additional Criteria that depend on state of resident, goals, or personal criteria. It’s good to plan ahead if you’d like to apply, so check out the .
At this time we expect to admit up to 25 students per GP cohort (incoming class). This is double the size of our prior capacity for a dietetic internship. Our aim is to foster a sense of community, support, and connection in each cohort so that students feel encouraged throughout this busy program.
As our program grows, our accrediting body has approved the GP@Ӱ to potentially double this cohort size over the next five years.