[Food, Nutrition & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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 Central New Mexico Community College this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $10,112. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Central Arizona College one of the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. In-state tuition and fees average $2,250, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $11,635. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
Lamar University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. 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 food, nutrition & related services graduates is $21,482. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services 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 Texas Womans University earned it the #4 place for food, nutrition & related services. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,104 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $46,399 early in their careers. Set against $14,104 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Santa Fe Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,851, compared with $4,131 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $15,267. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Santa Fe Community College earn a median of $51,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Prairie View A And M University came in at #6 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,874. Students borrow a median of $29,824 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services 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. Prairie View A And M University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Houston came in at #7 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $27,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Arizona earned the #8 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. 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 food, nutrition & related services program here. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #9 for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $27,978. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University landed the #10 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $46,365. Set against $24,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #11 spot for food, nutrition & related services value 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. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,354 in student loans. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $36,601 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,354 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,584 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $25,076. Set against $19,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Grand Canyon University landed the #13 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $56,285. That is a strong return on a $30,027 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Baylor University earned the #14 position for value in food, nutrition & related services 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 food, nutrition & related services graduates is $26,757. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Set against $26,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
