2027 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the Southwest Region

[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for human nutrition students.
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2027 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Our analysis ranked Lamar University the best value for a degree in human nutrition in the Southwest Region. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. In-state tuition and fees average $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $21,482 in student loans. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $52,678. That is a strong return on a $21,482 median debt. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Prairie View A And M University earned it the #2 place for human nutrition. Prairie View A And M University is a large public school located in the rural area of Prairie View. Students from in state pay about $11,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,874. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $29,824. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Prairie View A And M University generally make around $53,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in human nutrition will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $19,700 in student loans. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $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 #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the human nutrition program here. Human Nutrition graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas State University San Marcos earned it the #5 place for human nutrition. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $23,354. Human Nutrition graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $36,601 early in their careers. Set against $23,354 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Grand Canyon University earned the #6 position for value in human nutrition this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $30,027. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $56,285. That is a strong return on a $30,027 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University earned the #7 position for value in human nutrition this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $26,757. Human Nutrition graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Set against $26,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 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.