2026 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region

[Human Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/human-nutrition/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human nutrition students.
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2026 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human nutrition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Nutrition Schools
Our analysis ranked Winthrop University the best value for a degree in human nutrition in the Southeast Region. Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human nutrition program here. Human Nutrition graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $39,378 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
Meredith College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human nutrition, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,630. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $26,618 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $22,422. That is a strong return on a $26,618 median debt. Meredith College admits about 74% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value human nutrition schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $48,139. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Nova Southeastern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human nutrition, landing the #4 spot this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete the human nutrition program here. Human Nutrition graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $70,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.