2026 Best Value Food Nutrition Services Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Food Nutrition Services associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 272 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Food Nutrition Services Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Saint Louis Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Food Nutrition Services associate's degree schools in the United States. Saint Louis Community College is a public school based in Bridgeton, MO. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete their Food Nutrition Services program here. Median earnings reach $35,325 ten years out. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Saint Louis Community College
You'll get strong value at Santa Ana College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Santa Ana, CA, Santa Ana College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. The median Food Nutrition Services program debt is $11,196. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,552. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Santa Ana College
Fresno City College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Food Nutrition Services ranking in the United States. Fresno City College is a public school based in Fresno, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Fresno City College alumni report median earnings of $37,361 a decade after entry. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Fresno City College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central New Mexico Community College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete their Food Nutrition Services program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Central New Mexico Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Sequoias earned it the #5 place in the United States. College Of The Sequoias is a public school based in Visalia, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. The median Food Nutrition Services program debt is $10,288. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full College Of The Sequoias profile
Front Range Community College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Front Range Community College
San Diego Miramar College placed #7 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full San Diego Miramar College profile
San Diego Mesa College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Read more about San Diego Mesa College
San Jose City College placed #9 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full San Jose City College profile
University Of Central Arkansas placed #10 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Central Arkansas
University Of Memphis placed #11 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Memphis report
University Of North Dakota placed #12 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Dakota profile
Northeastern University Global Network landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Northeastern University Global Network
Southern Utah University placed #14 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Get the full Southern Utah University report
Truckee Meadows Community College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Truckee Meadows Community College
Schoolcraft College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Schoolcraft College
Dominican University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Dominican University report
Schenectady County Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full Schenectady County Community College profile
Southern Adventist University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southern Adventist University report
Baylor University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Baylor University
University Of New England came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of New England
Paradise Valley Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Paradise Valley Community College
Graceland University Lamoni offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Graceland University Lamoni
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Get the full Arizona State University Skysong report
Central Michigan University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. See the full Central Michigan University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Food Nutrition Services Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Imperial Valley College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Imperial Valley College
Feather River Community College District came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on Feather River Community College District
Gateway Community College Phoenix came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full Gateway Community College Phoenix profile
Andrews University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Andrews University
Arizona State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Arizona State University
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Read more about Cuny Graduate School And University Center
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. See the full North Carolina A And T State University profile
Orange Coast College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Orange Coast College report
Oxnard College
Oxnard College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on Oxnard College
Cosumnes River College placed #35 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. More on Cosumnes River College
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Our Lady Of Holy Cross College
East Carolina University placed #37 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Get the full East Carolina University report
Parker University placed #38 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read the full report on Parker University
Point Loma Nazarene University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on Point Loma Nazarene University
University Of Bridgeport landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Bridgeport
Mt San Antonio College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mt San Antonio College
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rochester Institute Of Technology profile
Utah State University placed #43 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Get the full Utah State University report
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania profile
Oakland Community College landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Oakland Community College
University Of The Pacific ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. See the full University Of The Pacific profile
East Los Angeles College placed #47 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Get the full East Los Angeles College report
Halifax Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Halifax Community College profile
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on Southwestern College Chula Vista
Clovis Community College Fresno offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Clovis Community College Fresno
Related Food Nutrition Services Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Nutrition Services Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · 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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