2026 Best Food Nutrition Services Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Food Nutrition Services doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 272 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Food Nutrition Services Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
North Dakota State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best Food Nutrition Services doctoral degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Fargo, ND. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Get the full North Dakota State University Main Campus report
Out of the 272 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Iowa State University landed the #2 spot. Based in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical Food Nutrition Services student debt is $23,495. See the full Iowa State University profile
A rank of #3 makes New York University one of the top choices in the United States. Based in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. The median Food Nutrition Services program debt is $21,897. Get the full New York University report
Out of the 272 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Michigan State University landed the #4 spot. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical Food Nutrition Services student debt is $25,213. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Out of the 272 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #5 spot. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Food Nutrition Services program here. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
South Dakota State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. See the full South Dakota State University profile
Wayne State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete their Food Nutrition Services program here. More on Wayne State University
Miracosta College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. See the full Miracosta College profile
South Mountain Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on South Mountain Community College
University Of Southern California landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Our Lady Of Holy Cross College
University Of Bridgeport ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on University Of Bridgeport
Evergreen Valley College landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Evergreen Valley College
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on Ivy Tech Community College
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Get the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign report
Imperial Valley College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. More on Imperial Valley College
Santiago Canyon College did well this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Santiago Canyon College profile
Southwestern College Chula Vista landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. More on Southwestern College Chula Vista
Lipscomb University placed #19 among Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full Lipscomb University profile
Oxnard College
Oxnard College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Oxnard College report
The University Of Texas At Austin did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
Foothill College
Foothill College placed #22 among Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read the full report on Foothill College
Canada College
Canada College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on Canada College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Mt San Antonio College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mt San Antonio College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Food Nutrition Services Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
San Bernardino Valley College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on San Bernardino Valley College
Texas State University San Marcos placed #27 among Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full Texas State University San Marcos profile
Montana State University did well this year, earning the #28 position. More on Montana State University
Ohio Wesleyan University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read more about Ohio Wesleyan University
Fresno City College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Fresno City College report
University Of California Davis came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on University Of California Davis
Central Michigan University did well this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Central Michigan University profile
Point Loma Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Point Loma Nazarene University profile
University Of Rhode Island placed #34 among Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
Niagara County Community College did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Niagara County Community College profile
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Delaware ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read more about University Of Delaware
Scottsdale Community College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Scottsdale Community College
City College Of San Francisco did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full City College Of San Francisco profile
College Of The Albemarle came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full College Of The Albemarle profile
Paradise Valley Community College did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Paradise Valley Community College
Madonna University came in at #42 in this year's ranking. See the full Madonna University profile
Cuny Brooklyn College did well this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Cuny Brooklyn College report
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Food Nutrition Services schools. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Feather River Community College District came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about Feather River Community College District
Orange Coast College did well this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Orange Coast College profile
Los Angeles City College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Get the full Los Angeles City College report
American River College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full American River College report
Cuny Queens College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full Cuny Queens College profile
Carson Newman College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Carson Newman College
Related Food Nutrition Services Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Food Nutrition Services Schools (All Levels)
- Best Food Nutrition Services Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Food Nutrition Services Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Food Nutrition Services Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Food Nutrition Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Food Nutrition Services Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Food Nutrition Services Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 272 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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