2026 Best Nutrition Sciences Schools in California
Nutrition Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nutrition sciences students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Nutrition Sciences in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nutrition sciences education in California.
Top Schools in Nutrition Sciences
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for nutrition sciences. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 96 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nutrition sciences degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $35,161 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,182.
Get the full nutrition sciences details for University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong nutrition sciences program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong nutrition sciences program will find one at University Of California Davis, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 135 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Nutrition Sciences graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $34,512 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,166.
See the full nutrition sciences program report for University Of California Davis
Students looking for a strong nutrition sciences program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 66 nutrition sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their nutrition sciences degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $49,907 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at California State University Sacramento
University Of Southern California came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nutrition sciences schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 nutrition sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Nutrition Sciences graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at University Of Southern California
San Diego State University earned the #6 position for nutrition sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 72 nutrition sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nutrition sciences degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $34,878. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at San Diego State University
San Francisco State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nutrition sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 56 nutrition sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nutrition sciences degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $30,620. Students borrow a median of $17,137 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at San Francisco State University
California State University Long Beach ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nutrition sciences schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nutrition sciences degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $50,982 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at California State University Long Beach
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #9 among the best nutrition sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 76 nutrition sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Nutrition Sciences graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $34,384 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,250.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
California State University Los Angeles came in at #10 for nutrition sciences this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 93 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Nutrition Sciences graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $31,096 early in their careers. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,493 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino landed the #11 spot for nutrition sciences this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. About 30 nutrition sciences degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Students who receive their nutrition sciences degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $42,421 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
See the full nutrition sciences program report for California State University San Bernardino
California State University Northridge came in at #12 for nutrition sciences this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 nutrition sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nutrition sciences degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202.
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California State University Chico came in at #13 for nutrition sciences this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 42 nutrition sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nutrition sciences degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $25,490. Students borrow a median of $19,272 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nutrition sciences from California State University Chico
California Baptist University earned the #14 position for nutrition sciences this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nutrition sciences degree from California Baptist University earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at California Baptist University
California State University Fresno earned the #15 position for nutrition sciences this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 11 nutrition sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Nutrition Sciences graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $23,211 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,375 to complete this degree.
See the full nutrition sciences program report for California State University Fresno
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #16 spot for nutrition sciences this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 66 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nutrition sciences program make about $22,675 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,620 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nutrition sciences program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Pepperdine University landed the #17 spot for nutrition sciences this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 nutrition sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nutrition sciences degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
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National Holistic Institute placed #18 among the best nutrition sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Emeryville, National Holistic Institute is a mid-sized private for-profit university. National Holistic Institute awarded about 85 nutrition sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nutrition sciences degree from National Holistic Institute earn around $18,613 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full nutrition sciences details for National Holistic Institute
More Nutrition Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.
- 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.
