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    • 15 Most Affordable Nutrition Bachelor’s Degrees

    Top 15 Most Affordable Bachelor's in Nutrition Degrees Badge

    When you are in the process of searching for a bachelor’s degree nutrition program, you are likely using a variety of criteria in making your decision. These include, but are not limited to, location of the school, size of the school, format of course delivery, prestige of faculty members, accreditation of the school, and affordability. While affordability might not be the first quality you are looking for in a nutrition degree program, it is usually a consideration.

    Here, we have listed 15 of the most affordable nutrition bachelor’s degree programs in the United States as of 2024. Keep in mind that not every program listed here is intended for those who want to become Registered Dietitians. (Remember that as of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has changed the degree requirement to take the examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree). A variety of bachelor’s degree programs in nutrition are featured here, and the commonality they all share is that they are relatively affordable. 

    How We Ranked the 15 Most Affordable Nutrition Bachelor’s Degrees

    The bachelor’s degree nutrition programs listed on this page have been chosen for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:

    Accreditation

    Institutional Accreditation

    The schools on this page have all received institutional accreditation from one of the following regional accreditation agencies:

    • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
    • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
    • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
    • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
    • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

    Programmatic Accreditation/Approval

    Some of the bachelor’s degree in nutrition programs featured on this page have also received programmatic accreditation or approval from one of these agencies:

    • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
    • Institute of Food Technologists

    Affordability

    The bachelor’s degree nutrition programs featured here are all relatively affordable. In-state tuition ranges from a low of $4114 per academic year to a high of $24,535 per academic year. In general, we strived to feature programs with a tuition per academic year that was less than $50,000, and the majority of the 15 programs listed fall well below that benchmark.

    Flexibility 

    Programs listed below are offered in a variety of formats to fit the needs of today’s students. They may be offered completely online, only in-person, or in a hybrid format, with some classes given online and some taught in-person.

    The 15 most affordable nutrition bachelor’s degrees are listed in alphabetical order by state below, and are in no particular ranking order.

    Colorado

    UNC

    University of Northern Colorado, Loveland, CO: Bachelor of Science in Dietetics (also offered as DPD Program)

    • Accredited by HLC, ACEND
    • 2024 tuition: C
      • $484 per credit hour$14,520 total for DPD program
      • $58,080 total for BS degree program
    • Offered in online and on-campus formats
    • Contact: [email protected] or (800) 232-1749 

    Administered by the UNC Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Dietetics (KiND), UNC’s Bachelor of Science in Dietetics is offered online as a Distance Dietetic Program (DDP) and is accredited by ACEND, for those planning to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. It is also provided as a stand-alone bachelor’s degree program, with classes taught on-campus. The program consists of 120 credits for the bachelor’s degree, and 30 credits for those who already have a bachelor’s degree and are seeking the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program only. Those who enter the program with an associate of arts, associate of science, or bachelor’s degree in any field, regardless of date of completion, will have their liberal arts curriculum requirements waived. The bachelor’s degree program may be completed in 18 months.

    Delaware

    DSU

    Delaware State University, Dover, DE: Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutritional Sciences

    • Accredited by MSCHE, Institute of Food Technologists 
    • 2024 tuition and fees: 
      • $10,953 per academic year for in-state residents
      •  $20,875 per academic year for out-of-state residents
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Sherry Garrison at [email protected] or (302) 857-6440 

    Two options are offered with DSU’s BS in Food and Nutritional Sciences program. One is the Food Science Option, which prepares graduates to work in food safety, food quality control, research, and teaching; and the other is the Nutritional Science Option, preparing graduates who wish to pursue graduate degrees and professional degrees. Both programs are administered by the Department of Human Ecology of the school’s College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, and both programs are offered on-campus.

    Indiana

    Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Wellness

    • Accredited by HLC
    • 2024 tuition: 
      • $ 9712 per academic year for in-state residents 
      • $12,626 per academic year for interstate residents (Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Midwest Consortium’s Scholarship Recipients from Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin)
      • $21,454 per academic year for out-of-state residents
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Department of Applied Health Sciences at (812) 237-3079

    ISU’s BS in Nutrition and Wellness program is intended for students who do not wish to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists but who want to work in nutrition and wellness in another capacity. The on-campus program includes supervised practice experiences, laboratory, and classroom learning. Graduates are prepared for careers in community nutrition settings, as well as for graduate school. The program is administered by the College of Health and Human Services’ Department of Applied Health Sciences.

    Iowa

    Waldorf University, Forest City, IA: Bachelor of Arts in Health Promotion and Exercise Science

    • Accredited by HLC
    • 2024-25 tuition:
      • $24,514 per academic year
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Health Promotion and Exercise Science Dept. at (641) 585-8785

    While not strictly a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, Waldorf University’s BA in Health Promotion and Exercise Science encompasses the whole range of fitness and health, from behavioral, social, and environmental influences to a focus on the scientific study of how humans move. Careers in wellness, health promotion, exercise science and other fields are available to graduates, as is continuing education into professional degree programs. The degree program totals 120 credit hours and is offered by the school’s Health Promotion and Exercise Science Department.

    Maryland

    Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD: Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences

    • Accredited by MSCHE, ACEND
    • 2024-25 tuition and fees: 
      • $4114 per academic year for in-state residents
      • $9562 per academic year for out-of-state residents
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Dr. Jocelyn Peterson, Director at (443) 885-4145 or [email protected]

    Morgan State University’s BS in Nutritional Sciences is intended for those who wish to continue their studies, including internship, after graduation and receive a master’s degree, which is now necessary to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. The program is offered on campus under the School of Community Health and Policy’s Department of Public and Allied Health. MSU is one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the country, and as Director Jocelyn Peterson notes, blacks currently comprise just 2.9 percent of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in the United States.

    Michigan

    Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI: Bachelor of Science in Culinary and Dietary Operations Management

    • Accredited by HLC
    • 2024 tuition: 
      • $135 per credit hour for in-state residents (students living in the Michigan public school districts of Clarenceville, Garden City, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth-Canton, and part of Novi)
        • Program total: $17,820
      • $194 per credit hour for Michigan non-residents 
        •  Program total: $25,608
      • $268 per credit hour for out-of-state residents
        •  Program total: $35,376
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Admissions at (734) 462-4683 or [email protected]

    Schoolcraft College’s BS in Culinary and Dietary Operations Management prepares students to work in management positions in the food and nutrition industry. Graduates will be prepared to take the examination to become a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) of the Association of Nutrition and Food Service Professionals (ANFP). The 132-credit program is offered on campus. This program’s enrollment is restricted to those who have been accepted to Schoolcraft College and have met with an Academic Advisor to review prerequisites.

    Mississippi

    Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS: Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Community Health Sciences

    • Accredited by SACSCOC
    • 2024 tuition and fees:
      • $23,744 per academic year 
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Cinda Catchings, Director at (601) 877-6259 or [email protected]

    Alcorn State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences offers the BS in Food, Nutrition and Community Health Sciences through its Department of Human Sciences. Graduates of this program will be ready to pursue graduate study or enter the workforce, as, according to Director Cinda Catchings, food, nutritional and community health science professions are among the fastest-growing career paths. The program is offered on-campus. 

    New Hampshire

    University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition

    • Accredited by NECHE, ACEND
    • 2024 tuition:
      • $15,520 per academic year for in-state residents
      • $35,290 per academic year for out-of-state residents
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Gretchen Arnold, Program Coordinator at (603) 862-3083 or [email protected]

    UNH’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture presents the BS in Nutrition, with tracks in Dietetics (a DPD program which requires further graduate study to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist), Nutrition and Wellness (which prepares students for careers in nutrition and research as well as further graduate study), and Nutritional Sciences (which prepares students for graduate study as well as careers in clinical nutrition, research, and food and nutrition management) available. 

    North Carolina

    Appalachian State University, Boone, NC: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Foods-Nutrition and Wellness

    • Accredited by SACSCOC
    • 2024 tuition and fees: 
      • $5443 for in-state residents per academic year
      • $22,439 for out-of-state residents per academic year
    • Offered online
    • Contact: Dr. Ayron Walker at [email protected]

    Appalachian State’s BS in Nutrition and Foods-Nutrition and Wellness is offered completely online through the school’s Beaver College of Health Science’s Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management. The program totals 120 credits and prepares graduates to work in community health and nutrition and as nutritionists. Students must apply and be admitted through App State Online at this address.

    Ohio

    Ohio University, Athens, OH: Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition Sciences

    • Accredited by HLC
    • 2024-25 tuition: 
      • $6765 for in-state residents per academic year
      • $11,949 for out-of-state residents per academic year
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Jana Hovland at [email protected]

    Ohio University’s BS in Food and Nutrition Sciences is considered a pre-professional and/or pre-medicine program, for those who wish to continue their studies after graduation and ultimately work in nutrition, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and other fields. Graduates are also prepared to work in food and nutrition research settings. The 123 semester-hour on-campus program is administered through the College of Health Sciences and Professions School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness. 

    Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH: Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Food and Nutrition Coordinated Program in Dietetics

    • Accredited by HLC, ACEND
    • 2024 tuition and fees:
      • $24,535 per academic year
    • Offered on-campus
    • Contact: Dr. Jeanine Mincher, Program Director at (330) 941-3346 or [email protected]

    Youngstown State’s BAS in Food and Nutrition Coordinated Program in Dietetics is considered to be a precursor to the school’s Master in Public Health/Dietetics Future Model Track program and is intended for those planning to pursue graduate study. Only through completion of graduate study can students expect to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. This degree, however, is also useful for students who wish to work in community wellness and nutrition if they do not want to become RDNs.

    Pennsylvania

    Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania-Mansfield, Mansfield, PA: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition

    • 2024 tuition: 
      • $7716 for in-state residents per academic year
      • $19,290 for out-of-state residents per academic year
    • Accredited by MSCHE
    • Contact: Dr. Eric Lippincott, Dept. of Health and Exercise Science Chair, at (570) 484-2781 or [email protected]

    Commonwealth University-Mansfield’s Health and Exercise Science Department offers this BS in Nutrition program with two options – Dietetics or Sports Nutrition. Those wishing to work in entry-level nutrition or to go on for graduate study to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist should pursue the Dietetics option. Those who wish to work in sports nutrition or go on for graduate study in that field may pursue the Sports Nutrition option. Both programs average 120 credits total.

    WCU

    WCU West Chester University, West Chester, PA:
    Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

    • 2024 tuition:
      • $7716 for in-state residents per academic year
      • $19,290 for out-of-state residents per academic year
    • Accredited by ACEND
    • Contact: Dara Dirhan EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN, Associate Professor of Nutrition and DPD Director, (610) 436-2528, [email protected]

      Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and receive a DPD Verification Statement after successfully completing the DPD and University requirements. The degree and Verification Statement establish eligibility to apply for an ACEND accredited supervised practice program (e.g. internship, master’s degree coordinated program or internship, individualized supervised practice program, future graduate program). The DPD Verification Statement, completion of the practice program (and receiving a second Verification Statement), and completion of a master’s degree (as of January 1, 2024), qualify a person to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians. Passing the exam results in the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential and eligibility to apply for state licensure in those states that provide licensure for dietitians.

      Texas

      Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition-Nutritional Sciences

      • Accredited by SACSCOC
      • 2024 tuition: 
        • $14,280 per academic year for in-state residents
        • $39,480 per academic year for out-of-state residents
      • Offered in a hybrid format
      • Contact: [email protected] or (940) 898-2636 

      TWU’s BS in Nutrition-Nutritional Sciences prepares graduates for careers in teaching or researching as well as for further graduate study or professional program enrollment. The program totals 120 to 123 credit hours and can be completed in four years. Most classes are held on TWU’s Denton campus, but some are offered online. The department boasts of its state-of-the-art analytical equipment available for use by faculty and students.

      Utah

      Weber State University, Ogden, UT: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Education

      • Accredited by NWCCU
      • 2024 tuition: 
        • $5471 for in-state residents per academic year
        • $16,164 for out-of-state residents per academic year
      • Offered online
      • Contact: Matthew Smith, ENS Academic Advisor at (801) 626-6696 or [email protected]

      Weber State’s BS in Nutrition Education offers two concentrations: integrative nutrition and sports nutrition. Graduates are prepared for further study or careers in research, health clubs, fitness, and more settings. Some students may go on to graduate study to become a Registered Dietitian or to enroll in medical degree programs. The program totals 120 credit hours and is offered by the school’s Moyes College of Education’s Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences.

      Virginia

      Radford University, Radford, VA: Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition

      • Accredited by SACSCOC, ACEND
      • 2024 tuition: 
        • $12,286 for in-state residents per academic year
        • $25,453 for out-of-state residents per academic year
      • Offered on-campus
      • Contact: Kristen Dehr, MS, RDN at (540) 831-7677 or [email protected]

      Radford University’s BS in Foods and Nutrition is considered a precursor to graduate study for students wishing to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, but it is not just intended for these students. Graduates who do not wish to pursue an RDN credential may opt to work in public health, food and nutrition business and industry, or healthcare foodservice management. Administered through the College of Education and Human Development’s Department of Health and Human Performance, the degree totals 122 credit hours.