2026 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Food & Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/food-nutrition-wellness/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value food & nutrition schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food & nutrition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Food & Nutrition Schools
Leading the list is Ivy Tech Community College, our #1 best value for food & nutrition in the Great Lakes Region. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the food & nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in food & nutrition will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Food & Nutrition graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Early-career food & nutrition graduates make about $34,303. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food & nutrition, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for food & nutrition graduates is $26,675. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $39,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
