[Food, Nutrition & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong food, nutrition & related services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
For return on investment in food, nutrition & related services, no school beat Central New Mexico Community College this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Texas Womans University one of the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. 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. That is a strong return on a $14,104 median debt. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Arizona College earned it the #3 place for food, nutrition & related services. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
Rio Salado College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #4 spot this year. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $13,679. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Rio Salado College generally make around $48,564. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in food, nutrition & related services will find it at Lamar University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $21,482 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $52,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #6 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $25,000. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $44,004. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,700 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $27,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Arizona ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Food, Nutrition & Related Services 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. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $19,584. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $25,076. That is a strong return on a $19,584 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Sam Houston State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $46,365. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #11 position for value in food, nutrition & related services this year. 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, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $36,601. That is a strong return on a $23,354 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for food, nutrition & related services. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $27,978 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University landed the #13 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $56,285. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,757 in student loans. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,757 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
