2026 Best Value Nutrition Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nutrition science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nutrition Science Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best value for a degree in nutrition science in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the nutrition science program here. Early-career nutrition science graduates make about $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for nutrition science. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the nutrition science program here. Early-career nutrition science graduates make about $33,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Dominican University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nutrition science schools. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Typical student debt for nutrition science graduates is $26,236. Early-career nutrition science graduates make about $45,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #4 place for nutrition science. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the nutrition science program here. Soon after graduation, nutrition science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $34,504. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in nutrition science will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for nutrition science graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, nutrition science degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #6 for value in nutrition science this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Nutrition Science graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nutrition science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $30,042. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #7 among the best values for nutrition science. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nutrition science graduates is $25,000. Early-career nutrition science graduates make about $28,759. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for nutrition science value this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nutrition science graduates is $25,449. Soon after graduation, nutrition science degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $49,871. Set against $25,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #9 for value in nutrition science this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nutrition science graduates is $23,530. Early-career nutrition science graduates make about $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #10 position for value in nutrition science this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Nutrition Science graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nutrition science degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Set against $24,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
[Nutrition Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/nutrition-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nutrition science education at a price that pays off.
