[Food, Nutrition & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/food-nutrition-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for food, nutrition & related services students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food, nutrition & related services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Ivy Tech Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools 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, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State University earned it the #2 place for food, nutrition & related services. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $34,303. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #3 spot this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical student debt for food, nutrition & related services graduates is $27,857. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $63,726. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value food, nutrition & related services schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $26,654 to complete the food, nutrition & related services program here. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $34,540 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food, nutrition & related services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,675 in student loans. Early-career food, nutrition & related services graduates make about $39,121. Set against $26,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #6 spot for food, nutrition & related services value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Food, Nutrition & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food, nutrition & related services degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $51,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
