2026 Best Food & Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region

1

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best food & nutrition schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 231 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $25,414 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the food & nutrition program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

2

Samford University
Birmingham, AL

Samford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in food & nutrition, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Samford University awarded about 23 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Food & Nutrition graduates of Samford University earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. Samford University graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Get the full food & nutrition details for Samford University

3

Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in food & nutrition, landing the #3 spot this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from Lipscomb University earn around $48,949 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree. See the full food & nutrition program report for Lipscomb University

4

University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University, MS

A rank of #4 makes University Of Mississippi Main Campus one of the top schools for food & nutrition. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 14 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from University Of Mississippi Main Campus

5

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best food & nutrition schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 14 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food & nutrition program make about $51,931 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete this degree. Get the full food & nutrition details for East Carolina University

6

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best food & nutrition schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 20 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food & nutrition program make about $24,860 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Read more about the food & nutrition program at James Madison University

7

University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

University Of Arkansas placed #7 among the best food & nutrition schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 53 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the food & nutrition program make about $31,986 in their early career. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $24,400 in student loans. Read more about the food & nutrition program at University Of Arkansas

8

University Of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS

University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #8 spot for food & nutrition this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from University Of Southern Mississippi earn around $52,338 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from University Of Southern Mississippi

9

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #9 among the best food & nutrition schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 62 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $23,633. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117. Get the full food & nutrition details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

10

Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College came in at #10 for food & nutrition this year. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 22 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at Meredith College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $22,422. Meredith College graduates carry a median of $26,618 in student loans. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from Meredith College

11

University Of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR

University Of Central Arkansas placed #11 among the best food & nutrition schools. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. University Of Central Arkansas graduates 53% of students within six years. About 31 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $43,187. University Of Central Arkansas graduates carry a median of $22,906 in student loans. Get the full food & nutrition details for University Of Central Arkansas

12

North Carolina A And T State University
Greensboro, NC

North Carolina A And T State University landed the #12 spot for food & nutrition this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. About 57% of students finish within six years. North Carolina A And T State University awarded about 18 food & nutrition degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $50,715. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from North Carolina A And T State University

13

Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #13 spot for food & nutrition this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 43 food & nutrition degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their food & nutrition degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $30,835 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,853 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in food & nutrition from Middle Tennessee State University

14

Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY

Eastern Kentucky University earned the #14 position for food & nutrition this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 17 food & nutrition students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, food & nutrition degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $43,891. Students borrow a median of $25,122 to complete this degree. See the full food & nutrition program report for Eastern Kentucky University