2026 Best Value Food Nutrition Services Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Food Nutrition Services doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 272 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect 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 reviewed schools to compile 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is North Dakota State University Main Campus, our #1 best-value Food Nutrition Services school in the United States. Based in Fargo, ND, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete their Food Nutrition Services program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,203. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants. Read more about North Dakota State University Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Dakota State University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical Food Nutrition Services student debt is $24,989. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. Read more about South Dakota State University
Out of the 272 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Iowa State University landed the #3 spot. Iowa State University is a public school based in Ames, IA. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical Food Nutrition Services student debt is $23,495. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,386. Set against $23,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 89% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Iowa State University report
You'll get strong value at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #4 this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University Food Nutrition Services students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $81,698. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
A rank of #5 makes New York University one of the best values in the United States. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. New York University Food Nutrition Services students take on a median of $21,897 in debt. New York University alumni report median earnings of $82,509 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University has an acceptance rate of 9%. More on New York University
Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. The median Food Nutrition Services program debt is $25,213. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,253 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University has an acceptance rate of 85%. More on Michigan State University
Wayne State University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $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. Wayne State University alumni report median earnings of $53,493 a decade after entry. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants. Get the full Wayne State University report
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Santa Rosa Junior College
University Of New England offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full University Of New England profile
Niagara County Community College placed #10 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full Niagara County Community College profile
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #11 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
Cuny Lehman College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Cuny Lehman College profile
Fresno City College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Get the full Fresno City College report
Miracosta College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Read the full report on Miracosta College
Irvine Valley College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Irvine Valley College
University Of Wyoming offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about University Of Wyoming
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #17 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full Glendale Community College Glendale Az profile
Los Angeles City College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Los Angeles City College
Mott Community College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Mott Community College report
Riverside City College placed #20 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. More on Riverside City College
Feather River Community College District ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Get the full Feather River Community College District report
Lipscomb University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. More on Lipscomb University
Saddleback College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Saddleback College report
South Mountain Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on South Mountain Community College
Loma Linda University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Loma Linda University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Food Nutrition Services Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Evergreen Valley College placed #26 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read the full report on Evergreen Valley College
Los Angeles Mission College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Los Angeles Mission College report
Virginia State University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Virginia State University
Foothill College
Foothill College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Foothill College
Arizona State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Arizona State University report
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Texas State University San Marcos profile
University Of Bridgeport ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Get the full University Of Bridgeport report
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill report
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
Santa Ana College placed #35 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read more about Santa Ana College
Holyoke Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Holyoke Community College profile
Long Beach City College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Long Beach City College
University Of North Dakota landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of North Dakota
Bennington College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Read more about Bennington College
Sullivan County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Sullivan County Community College report
Santa Monica College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on Santa Monica College
Western Illinois University placed #42 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full Western Illinois University profile
Weber State University placed #43 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read the full report on Weber State University
Diablo Valley College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. More on Diablo Valley College
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla
James Madison University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools. Read more about James Madison University
Sierra College
Sierra College placed #47 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. See the full Sierra College profile
Montana State University placed #48 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. More on Montana State University
Orange Coast College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Orange Coast College report
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #50 among the best-value Food Nutrition Services schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Related Food Nutrition Services Value Rankings
See value rankings for 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 Associate’s 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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