[Food, Nutrition & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 food, nutrition & related services students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food, nutrition & related services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Central Carolina Community College, our #1 best value for food, nutrition & related services in the Southeast Region. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $10,266. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina A And T State University earned it the #2 place for food, nutrition & related services. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $50,715 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Albemarle earned it the #3 place for food, nutrition & related services. College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elizabeth City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,242, with out-of-state students paying around $7,652. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $10,240. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of College Of The Albemarle earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Set against $10,240 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $23,633. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned it the #5 place for food, nutrition & related services. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Halifax Community College landed the #6 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Halifax Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Weldon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,608, compared with $8,752 for out-of-state students. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $70,982.
Middle Tennessee State University placed #7 among the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,853 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $30,835. That is a strong return on a $25,853 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
East Carolina University landed the #8 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University placed #9 among the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $45,531. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Winthrop University landed the #10 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $39,378. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #11 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Students borrow a median of $22,906 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $43,187. That is a strong return on a $22,906 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arkansas came in at #12 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $24,400 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $31,986. Set against $24,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama came in at #13 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $48,139. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #14 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
James Madison University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $19,000. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $24,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Meredith College landed the #16 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,630. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $26,618. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $22,422. Set against $26,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #18 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $25,000. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $25,414. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earned the #19 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $41,982 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earn a median of $32,586 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University placed #20 among the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $25,021. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $70,595. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
Samford University earned the #21 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,150. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $64,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
