2026 Best Value Human Nutrition Master’s Degree Schools
[Human Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/human-nutrition/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 67 schools to find the best return on investment for human nutrition students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human nutrition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Nutrition Schools
For return on investment in human nutrition, no school beat Lamar University this year. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $21,482. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. Set against $21,482 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $19,700 in student loans. 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. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human nutrition, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the human nutrition program here. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Michigan University earned it the #4 place for human nutrition. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $27,857. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $63,726. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the best values for human nutrition. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete the human nutrition program here. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $36,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
South Dakota State University placed #6 among the best values for human nutrition. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the human nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Winthrop University earned the #7 position for value in human nutrition this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,678 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $39,378 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Meredith College earned the #8 position for value in human nutrition this year. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $45,630 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $26,618. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $22,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Meredith College admits about 74% of applicants.
Johnson And Wales University Online came in at #9 for value in human nutrition this year. Johnson And Wales University Online is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. In-state tuition and fees average $13,365. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human nutrition program here. 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.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #10 position for value in human nutrition this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. 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.
The University Of Alabama placed #11 among the best values for human nutrition. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Simmons College earned the #12 position for value in human nutrition this year. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $26,740. Human Nutrition graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $64,455 early in their careers. Set against $26,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Bridgeport landed the #13 spot for human nutrition value 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. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $28,601. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $54,775. That is a strong return on a $28,601 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New England ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Set in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $26,838. Human Nutrition graduates of University Of New England earn a median of $53,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #15 spot for human nutrition value this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $25,106. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $51,764. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Bastyr University earned the #16 position for value in human nutrition this year. Bastyr University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Kenmore. Students from in state pay about $32,289 in tuition and fees. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $26,196 in student loans. 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
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
