2026 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the Southwest Region
[Human Nutrition](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/human-nutrition/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human nutrition education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human nutrition students.
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2026 Best Value Human Nutrition Schools in the Southwest 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 Rio Salado College the best value for a degree in human nutrition in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $13,679. Human Nutrition graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar University earned it the #2 place for human nutrition. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Students borrow a median of $21,482 to complete the human nutrition program here. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $52,678. Set against $21,482 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Houston one of the best values for human nutrition. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $19,700 to complete the human nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $27,648. That is a strong return on a $19,700 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for human nutrition. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in human nutrition will find it at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #5. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for human nutrition graduates is $23,354. Early-career human nutrition graduates make about $36,601. That is a strong return on a $23,354 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University placed #6 among the best values for human nutrition. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the human nutrition program here. Soon after graduation, human nutrition degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $56,285. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Baylor University landed the #7 spot for human nutrition value this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Human Nutrition graduates carry a median of $26,757 in student loans. Human Nutrition graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
