2026 Best Value Dietetics/Dietitian Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Dietetics/Dietitian](/majors/health-care-professions/dietetics-clinical-nutrition-services/dietetics-dietitian/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dietetics/dietitian students.
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2026 Best Value Dietetics/Dietitian Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dietetics/dietitian degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dietetics/Dietitian Schools
Our analysis ranked Sinclair Community College the best value for a degree in dietetics/dietitian in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Stark State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dietetics/dietitian, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $17,349. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $45,147. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $24,912 in student loans. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $33,554. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for dietetics/dietitian. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $20,254 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $52,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $44,871. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University landed the #7 spot for dietetics/dietitian value this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $27,729 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $29,065. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University placed #8 among the best values for dietetics/dietitian. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $54,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Ball State University came in at #9 for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $24,518. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $55,317 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,518 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for dietetics/dietitian graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #11 spot for dietetics/dietitian value this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $30,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $40,093. That is a strong return on a $30,769 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #12 position for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,235 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Mount Mary College placed #13 among the best values for dietetics/dietitian. Mount Mary College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,420. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $58,441. That is a strong return on a $26,372 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University came in at #14 for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $18,892 in student loans. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $38,444 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,892 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value dietetics/dietitian schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $25,301. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Viterbo University earned the #17 position for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Early-career dietetics/dietitian graduates make about $60,309. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #18 for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Dietetics/dietitian graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dietetics/dietitian degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $48,483. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton earned the #19 position for value in dietetics/dietitian this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the dietetics/dietitian program here. Dietetics/dietitian graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $56,077 early in their careers. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
