[Food, Nutrition & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong food, nutrition & related services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for food, nutrition & related services students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food, nutrition & related services, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in food, nutrition & related services, no school beat Ivy Tech Community College this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Andrews University earned it the #2 place for food, nutrition & related services. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,056. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $62,634. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $34,303. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $26,654. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $34,540 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,654 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Central Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #5 spot this year. 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. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $63,726 early in their careers. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Bluffton University earned the #6 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bluffton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,362. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Bluffton University generally make around $41,821. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University placed #7 among the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $26,675. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $39,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #8 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $51,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
