2027 Best Value Dietetics/Dietitian Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Dietetics/Dietitian](/majors/health-care-professions/dietetics-clinical-nutrition-services/dietetics-dietitian/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dietetics/dietitian education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for dietetics/dietitian students.
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2027 Best Value Dietetics/Dietitian Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dietetics/dietitian degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dietetics/Dietitian Schools
Leading the list is Barton County Community College, our #1 best value for dietetics/dietitian in the The Plains States Region. Barton County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Great Bend. In-state tuition and fees average $3,680, compared with $4,960 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,792 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Barton County Community College generally make around $44,536. Set against $14,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #2 place for dietetics/dietitian. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $21,577. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dietetics/dietitian will find it at Southeast Missouri State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $23,289. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. Set against $23,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Kansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dietetics/dietitian, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Northwest Missouri State University one of the best values for dietetics/dietitian. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $42,939. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota came in at #7 for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $64,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Iowa State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $21,000. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $33,958 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $29,125 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University earned the #10 position for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Logan University placed #11 among the best values for dietetics/dietitian. Located in the suburb of Chesterfield, Logan University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,000. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $44,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Logan University admits about 64% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #12 spot for dietetics/dietitian value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $21,818. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $47,567 early in their careers. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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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 · 12 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.