2027 Best Value Human Nutrition Master’s Degree Schools
[Human Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/human-nutrition/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for human nutrition students.
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2027 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human nutrition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Nutrition Schools
Lamar University tops our 2027 list of the best value human nutrition schools in the United States. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Students borrow a median of $21,482 to complete the human nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #2 place for human nutrition. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #3 place for human nutrition. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $19,700. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $27,648. Set against $19,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Arizona came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $21,861. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human nutrition, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,654 to complete the human nutrition program here. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $34,540. Set against $26,654 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $27,000. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $42,972. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Winthrop University placed #7 among the best values for human nutrition. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $39,378. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #8 for value in human nutrition this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $23,354. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $36,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Cedar Crest College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,314. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $30,759. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Cedar Crest College generally make around $62,345. That is a strong return on a $30,759 median debt. Cedar Crest College admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Rhode Island ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,821 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,432 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University placed #11 among the best values for human nutrition. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson And Wales University Online landed the #12 spot for human nutrition value this year. Located in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Online is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,365. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of Johnson And Wales University Online 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 Online admits about 91% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama came in at #13 for value in human nutrition this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $58,442. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #14 position for value in human nutrition this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,258. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
Meredith College earned the #15 position for value in human 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. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $26,618 in student loans. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $22,422. Set against $26,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Meredith College admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Bridgeport came in at #16 for value in human nutrition this year. University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bridgeport. In-state tuition and fees average $35,760. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $28,601 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of University Of Bridgeport earn a median of $54,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,601 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Merrimack College landed the #17 spot for human nutrition value this year. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. Students from in state pay about $53,962 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,913 to complete the human nutrition program here. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $50,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New England placed #18 among the best values for human nutrition. Set in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,210. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $26,838 in student loans. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $53,306. That is a strong return on a $26,838 median debt. University Of New England admits about 92% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #19 position for value in human nutrition this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $25,106. Human Nutrition graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $51,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
Oregon Health And Science University earned the #20 position for value in human nutrition this year. Set in the city of Portland, Oregon Health And Science University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,306, while out-of-state students pay about $37,338. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $32,059. Human Nutrition graduates of Oregon Health And Science University earn a median of $126,454 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bastyr University earned the #21 position for value in human nutrition this year. Set in the suburb of Kenmore, Bastyr University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,289. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $26,196. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $35,557. Set against $26,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Human Nutrition Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Human Nutrition rankings across degree levels:
View All Human Nutrition Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
