2026 Best Value Nutrition Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Nutrition Science graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 169 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.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree analyzed 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
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
The Sage Colleges tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Nutrition Science graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. Set in Troy, NY, The Sage Colleges is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,164. Students borrow a median of $26,702 to complete their Nutrition Science program here. 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 admits about 53% of applicants. Get the full The Sage Colleges report
Out of the 169 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #2 spot. Based in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $25,449. Median earnings reach $47,896 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. More 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. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $21,850 to complete their Nutrition Science program here. Texas A And M University College Station alumni report median earnings of $72,097 a decade 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%. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Dominican University came in at #4 on this year's best-value Nutrition Science ranking in the United States. Set in River Forest, IL, Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Dominican University Nutrition Science students take on a median of $26,236 in debt. Dominican University alumni report median earnings of $60,327 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants. Read the full report on Dominican University
Montclair State University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Nutrition Science ranking in the United States. Based in Montclair, NJ, Montclair State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete their Nutrition Science program here. 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. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants. Read more about Montclair State University
Metropolitan State College Of Denver offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,093 ten years after entry. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. The median Nutrition Science program debt is $23,530. Median earnings reach $54,810 ten years out. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,656 to complete their Nutrition Science program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,160. Set against $26,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants. See the full University Of North Carolina At Greensboro profile
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. The median Nutrition Science program debt is $24,750. Colorado State University Fort Collins alumni report median earnings of $60,543 a decade after entry. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Colorado State University Fort Collins profile
University Of Kentucky offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $24,094. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants. Get the full University Of Kentucky report
Pepperdine University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Malibu, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,918. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $23,645. Median earnings reach $82,939 ten years out. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pepperdine University admits about 63% of applicants. More on Pepperdine University
Bastyr University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Kenmore, WA, Bastyr University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,289. Typical Nutrition Science student debt is $23,225. Bastyr University alumni report median earnings of $49,364 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,225 median debt. More on Bastyr University
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Nutrition Science students take on a median of $23,258 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $102,491. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Syracuse University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Syracuse, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. The median Nutrition Science program debt is $26,130. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $79,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University has an acceptance rate of 46%. Read the full report on Syracuse University
California State University Fresno came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on California State University Fresno
Miami University Oxford placed #16 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Miami University Oxford
University Of Maine came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Maine
Canisius College
Canisius College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Canisius College profile
Arizona State University Skysong offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Arizona State University Skysong
Lees Mcrae College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. See the full Lees Mcrae College profile
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Kansas landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Kansas report
University Of Utah offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on University Of Utah
Delta College
Delta College placed #24 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Delta College
Gannon University placed #25 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. See the full Gannon University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Nutrition Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
North Dakota State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full North Dakota State University Main Campus report
Robert Morris University offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Robert Morris University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #28 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Baylor University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on Baylor University
University Of Memphis landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Memphis report
University Of Idaho landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Idaho
Nova Southeastern University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. More on Nova Southeastern University
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Saint Louis University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #34 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Alabama At Birmingham report
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #36 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
California Baptist University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nutrition Science schools. See the full California Baptist University profile
Ohio University Southern Campus landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Ohio University Southern Campus
Oregon State University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Oregon State University report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale report
Mississippi State University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on Mississippi State University
California State University Northridge placed #42 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. More on California State University Northridge
Fontbonne University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Fontbonne University profile
Michigan State University placed #44 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Texas Christian University landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas Christian University
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Central Oklahoma
Boston University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Boston University profile
Pace University New York came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pace University New York
St Catherine University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about St Catherine University
California State University San Bernardino placed #50 among the best-value Nutrition Science schools in the United States. Read more about California State University San Bernardino
Related Nutrition Science Value Rankings
Explore 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
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (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 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).