2027 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region

[Food & Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/food-nutrition-wellness/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for food & nutrition students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food & nutrition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools
North Carolina A And T State University tops our 2027 list of the best value food & nutrition schools in the Southeast Region. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Early-career food & nutrition graduates make about $50,715. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place for food & nutrition. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $15,117. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $23,633. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Mississippi Main Campus one of the best values for food & nutrition. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Students looking for strong value in food & nutrition will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $25,853 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,853 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes East Carolina University one of 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. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $24,747. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Georgia Southern University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value food & nutrition schools. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $45,531. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Central Arkansas placed #7 among the best values for food & nutrition. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Food & Nutrition graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $43,187 early in their careers. Set against $22,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value food & nutrition schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $24,400 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $31,986 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,400 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama came in at #9 for value in food & nutrition this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $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 acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Southern Mississippi placed #10 among the best values for food & nutrition. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $25,415. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Meredith College landed the #11 spot for food & nutrition value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,630. Students borrow a median of $26,618 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $22,422. That is a strong return on a $26,618 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
James Madison University came in at #12 for value in food & nutrition this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $19,000. 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. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University earned the #13 position for value in food & nutrition this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #14 on our 2027 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the food & nutrition program here. 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.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte landed the #15 spot for food & nutrition value this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,982. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $27,000. Food & Nutrition graduates of Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earn a median of $32,586 early in their careers. 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Food & Nutrition Schools by State
More Food & Nutrition Rankings
View All Food & Nutrition Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.