2026 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region
[Food & Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/food-nutrition-wellness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for food & nutrition students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food & nutrition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools
For return on investment in food & nutrition, no school beat Eastern Kentucky University this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $43,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned it the #2 place for food & nutrition. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $22,444. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina A And T State University earned it the #3 place for food & nutrition. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $50,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for food & nutrition. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $23,633 early in their careers. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #5 place for food & nutrition. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $25,853. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $30,835. Set against $25,853 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Southern Mississippi placed #6 among the best values for food & nutrition. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,415 median debt. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants.
East Carolina University placed #7 among the best values for food & nutrition. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas landed the #8 spot for food & nutrition value this year. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,523, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. Students borrow a median of $22,906 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $43,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Arkansas admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas came in at #9 for value in food & nutrition this year. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $24,400 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $31,986. Set against $24,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Meredith College came in at #10 for value in food & nutrition this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,630. Students borrow a median of $26,618 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Food & Nutrition graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $22,422 early in their careers. Set against $26,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University earned the #11 position for value in food & nutrition this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $24,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The University Of Alabama placed #12 among the best values for food & nutrition. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value food & nutrition schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career food & nutrition graduates make about $25,414. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value food & nutrition schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career food & nutrition graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte came in at #15 for value in food & nutrition this year. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,982. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte generally make around $32,586. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Samford University landed the #16 spot for food & nutrition value this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $21,039. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Set against $21,039 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
