2027 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Food & Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/food-nutrition-wellness/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong food & nutrition education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value food & nutrition schools.
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2027 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food & nutrition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among food & nutrition schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Food & Nutrition graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,498 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in food & nutrition will find it at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #2. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,256 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Food & Nutrition graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $39,528 early in their careers. Set against $25,256 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Waldorf College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food & nutrition, landing the #3 spot this year. Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Forest City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,978. Students borrow a median of $24,622 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Food & Nutrition graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $63,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food & nutrition, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.