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2027 Best Food & Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region

15 Colleges in the United States
559 Food & Nutrition Degrees Awarded
$39,960 Avg Early-Career Salary

Food & Nutrition is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their food & nutrition programs.

College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best food & nutrition schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Food & Nutrition in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall food & nutrition education in the Southeast Region.

Top Schools in Food & Nutrition

1

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in food & nutrition. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 219 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $25,414 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full food & nutrition program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

2
Samford University crest
Samford University
Birmingham, AL

Students looking for a strong food & nutrition program will find one at Samford University, which ranked #2. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Samford University awarded about 19 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Typical student debt for the program is $21,039. See the full food & nutrition program report for Samford University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Mississippi Main Campus one of the top schools for food & nutrition. This very large public university is located in the town of University. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food & nutrition program make about $50,876 in their early career. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans. Get the full food & nutrition details for University Of Mississippi Main Campus

4
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best food & nutrition schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from James Madison University earn around $24,860 in the first couple years of their career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from James Madison University

5
Lipscomb University crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in food & nutrition, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at Lipscomb University in the most recent data year. Food & Nutrition graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from Lipscomb University

6
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

University Of Arkansas landed the #6 spot for food & nutrition this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 66 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $31,986. Students borrow a median of $24,400 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from University Of Arkansas

7

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #7 position for food & nutrition this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $23,633. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117. See the full food & nutrition program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

8

North Carolina A And T State University placed #8 among the best food & nutrition schools. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 21 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Food & Nutrition graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $50,715 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from North Carolina A And T State University

9

Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earned the #9 position for food & nutrition this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charlotte. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 15 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at Johnson And Wales University Charlotte in the most recent year. Graduates of the food & nutrition program make about $32,586 in their early career. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte

10

East Carolina University landed the #10 spot for food & nutrition this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 15 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Typical student debt for the program is $24,747. Get the full food & nutrition details for East Carolina University

11
Meredith College crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College earned the #11 position for food & nutrition this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at Meredith College in the most recent data year. Food & Nutrition graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $22,422 early in their careers. Meredith College graduates carry a median of $26,618 in student loans. Get the full food & nutrition details for Meredith College

12

University Of Central Arkansas ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best food & nutrition schools. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 27 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent year. Food & Nutrition graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $43,187 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,906 to complete this degree. Read more about the food & nutrition program at University Of Central Arkansas

13

University Of Southern Mississippi earned the #13 position for food & nutrition this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. University Of Southern Mississippi awarded about 11 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from University Of Southern Mississippi earn around $52,338 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from University Of Southern Mississippi

14

Middle Tennessee State University earned the #14 position for food & nutrition this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 28 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $30,835 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,853 to complete this degree. Read more about the food & nutrition program at Middle Tennessee State University

15

Georgia Southern University earned the #15 position for food & nutrition this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Statesboro. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Southern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food & nutrition program make about $45,531 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree. Get the full food & nutrition details for Georgia Southern University

View All Food & Nutrition Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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