2026 Best Value Nutrition Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Nutrition Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/nutrition-science/nutrition-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for nutrition sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Nutrition Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nutrition sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nutrition Sciences Schools
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for nutrition sciences in the The Plains States Region. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for nutrition sciences graduates is $24,586. Early-career nutrition sciences graduates make about $32,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Kansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nutrition sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Nutrition Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Nutrition Sciences graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #3 makes Kansas State University one of the best values for nutrition sciences. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for nutrition sciences graduates is $24,625. Nutrition Sciences graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $33,381 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nutrition sciences will find it at Iowa State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $16,474 to complete the nutrition sciences program here. Nutrition Sciences graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $53,900 early in their careers. Set against $16,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value nutrition sciences schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete the nutrition sciences program here. Early-career nutrition sciences graduates make about $51,741. That is a strong return on a $26,586 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
College Of Saint Benedict landed the #6 spot for nutrition sciences value this year. College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,756. Students borrow a median of $26,572 to complete the nutrition sciences program here. Soon after graduation, nutrition sciences degree recipients from College Of Saint Benedict generally make around $28,402. Set against $26,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Saint Benedict admits about 92% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.