2026 Best Value Nutrition Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Nutrition Science graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 169 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh 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 build 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 Nutrition Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found The Sage Colleges to be the best-value Nutrition Science school in the United States. Based in Troy, NY, The Sage Colleges is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,164. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $26,702. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $58,316. Set against $26,702 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The Sage Colleges has an acceptance rate of 53%. See the full The Sage Colleges profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school based in Bowling Green, OH. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Bowling Green State University Main Campus Nutrition Science students take on a median of $25,449 in debt. Median earnings reach $47,896 ten years out. Set against $25,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Bowling Green State University Main Campus
You'll get strong value at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #3 this year. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Texas A And M University College Station Nutrition Science students take on a median of $21,850 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,097 ten years after entry. Set against $21,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station has an acceptance rate of 57%. More on Texas A And M University College Station
You'll get strong value at Dominican University, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in River Forest, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,828. Graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,327 ten years after entry. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. More on Dominican University
Montclair State University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Nutrition Science ranking in the United States. Montclair State University is a public school based in Montclair, NJ. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $25,286. Montclair State University alumni report median earnings of $61,415 a decade after entry. Set against $25,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. See the full Montclair State University profile
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Denver, CO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $26,750. Median earnings reach $52,093 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #7 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,810. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. This public school is set in Greensboro, NC. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,656 to complete their Nutrition Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,160 ten years after entry. Set against $26,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #9 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Based in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $60,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%. More on Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Kentucky came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. University Of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete their Nutrition Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,025 ten years after entry. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
Pepperdine University placed #11 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Based in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,918. Pepperdine University Nutrition Science students take on a median of $23,645 in debt. Median earnings reach $82,939 ten years out. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pepperdine University has an acceptance rate of 63%. Get the full Pepperdine University report
Bastyr University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Bastyr University is a private not-for-profit school based in Kenmore, WA. In-state tuition and fees average $32,289. The median Nutrition Science program debt is $23,225. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,364. Set against $23,225 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Bastyr University
Columbia University In The City Of New York offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $102,491 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
Syracuse University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Syracuse, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. The median Nutrition Science program debt is $26,130. Graduates go on to earn a median of $79,164 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. About 46% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Syracuse University profile
Tulsa Community College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Tulsa Community College report
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
California State University San Bernardino ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Read more about California State University San Bernardino
Central Washington University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Central Washington University
Southeast Missouri State University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Southeast Missouri State University
Lasell College
Lasell College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lasell College
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Mississippi State University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Mississippi State University
San Francisco State University came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about San Francisco State University
Viterbo University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Get the full Viterbo University report
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Nutrition Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
California State University Chico ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Read the full report on California State University Chico
University Of Southern California came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Southern California
Baylor University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on Baylor University
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
California State University Fresno came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full California State University Fresno report
Arizona State University Skysong offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Arizona State University Skysong
The University Of Tennessee landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
California State University Los Angeles landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full California State University Los Angeles report
Texas Womans University placed #34 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. See the full Texas Womans University profile
Emory University
Emory University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Emory University
Oregon State University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Oregon State University profile
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
East Tennessee State University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Get the full East Tennessee State University report
Universidad Del Turabo placed #40 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read more about Universidad Del Turabo
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Ohio University Chillicothe Campus
Saint Johns University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Read more about Saint Johns University
Ohio University Zanesville Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Ohio University Zanesville Campus
Our Lady Of The Lake College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Our Lady Of The Lake College
Utah State University landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Utah State University
California Baptist University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Get the full California Baptist University report
Cuny Queens College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Queens College
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Read the full report on North Dakota State University Main Campus
Oakland University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oakland University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Related Nutrition Science Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Nutrition Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Nutrition Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Nutrition Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Nutrition Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Nutrition Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Nutrition Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Nutrition Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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 169 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).