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43 Most Affordable Master’s in Nutrition Online Programs

Cheapest master's in nutrition online programs Best Buy sealMaster’s in nutrition online programs are gaining popularity as more students seek flexible, affordable college degrees. These programs appeal to practicing clinicians, but community health professionals and healthcare managers are also jumping on board. The best online colleges for nutrition hold ACEND or AAFCS accreditation. They not only prepare students for a top-notch healthcare career with an excellent salary, but they also point students toward ADA certification.

However, the most significant deciding factor for all aspiring college students remains the same: cost! Due to their increased popularity, there are high variations in pricing between the most expensive and most affordable nutrition degrees. The current difference for master’s in nutrition online programs is $80,000, no small number for aspiring graduate students. But how do you find the best nutrition programs online for you, your goals, and your budget?

That’s where GetEducated comes in. We’ve surveyed 74 of the top master’s in nutrition online programs from 70 regionally accredited schools to bring you our “Best Buy” ranking. This list reveals the highest quality degrees at the most economical prices, none above today’s national average! Advance your training on your terms, and check out the “Best Buys” below.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide

Average Cost (In-state): $25,700
Least Expensive: East Carolina University ~$9,540
Most Expensive: University of Southern California ~$89,540

Our data-driven research of public and non-profit colleges creates a genuinely reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no misleading formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and they factually showcase the cheapest master’s in nutrition online programs. The online nutrition degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.

Best Affordable Master’s in Nutrition Online Programs

RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
East Carolina University
(NC)
$9,540.63
$33,647.13
In-State
Out-of-State
2
Lamar University
(TX)
$11,682.00
All Students
3
University of Central Arkansas
(AR)
$11,700.00
All Students
4
Appalachian State University
(NC)
$11,864.58
$44,386.29
In-State
Out-of-State
5
The University of Alabama
(AL)
$13,200.00
All Students
6
University of Central Missouri
(MO)
$13,485.45
All Students
7
University of Houston
(TX)
$13,524.00
$31,848.00
In-State
Out-of-State
8
Southeast Missouri State University
(MO)
$13,914.00
All Students
9
Graceland University
(IA)
$15,378.00
All Students
10
Utah State University
(UT)
$15,543.00
All Students
11
Texas Woman's University
(TX)
$15,733.56
$30,421.56
In-State
Out-of-State
12
Texas Tech University
(TX)
$15,813.50
All Students
13
Ohio University
(OH)
$16,058.00
$16,647.00
In-State
Out-of-State
14
Logan University
(MO)
$16,200.00
All Students
15
Kansas State University
(KS)
$17,568.00
All Students
16
University of Maine
(ME)
$17,700.00
All Students
17
University of Wisconsin-Stout
(WI)
$18,000.00
All Students
18
Bowling Green State University
(OH)
$18,017.12
$18,446.12
In-State
Out-of-State
19
SUNY Oneonta
(NY)
$18,167.00
$20,839.00
In-State
Out-of-State
20
University of North Florida
(FL)
$18,323.55
$37,599.45
In-State
Out-of-State
21
University of Southern Mississippi
(MS)
$19,156.32
All Students
22
University of Memphis
(TN)
$19,680.00
All Students
23
University of Arizona
(AZ)
$20,082.50
All Students
24
University of Northern Colorado
(CO)
$20,895.00
All Students
25
South Dakota State University
(SD)
$21,240.00
All Students
25
University of Kansas
(KS)
$21,240.00
All Students
25
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
(NE)
$21,240.00
All Students
25
Colorado State University
(CO)
$21,240.00
All Students
25
Oklahoma State University
(OK)
$21,240.00
All Students
25
North Dakota State University
(ND)
$21,240.00
All Students
31
Central Michigan University
(MI)
$21,417.00
$12,419.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
32
Liberty University
(VA)
$21,436.00
$10,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
33
Stony Brook University
(NY)
$21,440.88
$24,824.88
In-State
Out-of-State
34
Immaculata University
(PA)
$21,450.00
All Students
35
University of North Dakota
(ND)
$21,630.90
All Students
36
University of Georgia
(GA)
$21,855.00
All Students
36
Russell Sage College
(NY)
$21,855.00
All Students
38
Canisius College
(NY)
$21,945.00
All Students
39
Auburn University
(AL)
$21,972.00
All Students
40
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
(OK)
$21,998.00
All Students
41
Parker University
(TX)
$22,215.00
All Students
42
University of Alabama at Birmingham
(AL)
$23,676.00
All Students
43
University of Wisconsin-Madison
(WI)
$24,000.00
All Students
44
Lasell University
(MA)
$24,196.00
All Students
45
SUNY Buffalo State
(NY)
$24,314.00
$28,834.00
In-State
Out-of-State
46
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
(PA)
$25,133.60
$36,311.60
In-State
Out-of-State
47
University of Saint Joseph
(CT)
$25,170.00
All Students
48
Johnson & Wales University
(RI)
$25,260.00
All Students
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
Winthrop University
(SC)
$25,810.00
All Students
Benedictine University
(IL)
$26,215.00
All Students
Adelphi University
(NY)
$26,690.00
All Students
University of Bridgeport
(CT)
$27,115.00
All Students
Northeast College of Health Sciences
(NY)
$27,216.00
All Students
King's College
(PA)
$27,540.00
All Students
Eastern Michigan University
(MI)
$28,133.00
All Students
Rutgers University
(NJ)
$28,144.00
All Students
University of New England
(ME)
$28,440.00
All Students
University of Arizona
(AZ)
$28,974.00
All Students
University of Western States
(OR)
$29,124.00
All Students
Saint Elizabeth University
(NJ)
$31,530.00
All Students
Samford University
(AL)
$32,278.00
All Students
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
(IL)
$34,215.00
All Students
Northeastern University
(MA)
$35,325.00
All Students
Union Institute & University (Status pending: not enrolling new students)
Master of Arts in Applied Nutrition & Dietetics 14
(OH)
$35,906.00
All Students
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
(AZ)
$36,472.00
All Students
Simmons University
(MA)
$40,144.00
All Students
Loma Linda University
(CA)
$47,585.00
All Students
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
(AZ)
$48,245.00
All Students
Saybrook University
(CA)
$53,887.00
All Students
New York Institute of Technology
(NY)
$54,030.00
All Students
American University
(DC)
$54,520.00
All Students
University of Southern California
(CA)
$89,540.00
All Students

Accreditation & Program Notes

To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.

14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
AAFCS  American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
ACEND  Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics

Rankings Note

These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Summer 2022 review of regionally accredited master’s in nutrition online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.

The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.

Editorial Note

Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any non-profit, regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.

These rankings of the cheapest online schools for nutrition may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best master’s in nutrition online programs for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.

Career Guide: Master’s in Nutrition Online Programs

A person’s diet and eating habits can have a profound impact on their overall health. If you graduate from one of the top master’s in nutrition online programs, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to help people improve what and how they eat. With time, this could create a life-altering change that results in greater confidence, a stronger body, and a better lifestyle.

What to Expect from Master’s in Nutrition Online Programs

These degrees lead to rewarding careers in nutrition, wellness, and health. But they are challenging programs that require rigorous study of some of the most complex subjects in science. This will include biology, chemistry, and anatomy.

Simply gaining entry is challenging enough. Before you can enroll in one of these master’s in nutrition online programs, you need a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, biology, dietary issues, or a similar field. Not only will you need a bachelor’s degree, there will be GPA requirements; most require that you have a 3.0 or better before you can be accepted.

In most cases, they take about two years to complete, but you can speed the process by taking a larger class load and by enrolling in summer and winter classes.

A master’s in nutrition can be affordable, but it can be expensive if you don’t do your research and look at a variety of schools. In our survey of roughly 35 master’s in nutrition online programs, we found that the average cost was almost $26,000, but the most expensive was over $89,000. However, there were programs priced much lower, including the most affordable, which cost only $9,540. With a meticulous search, you can find one that meets even the tightest budget.

During the programs, you’ll be exposed to a variety of topics that make you more knowledgable in the field of nutrition. The classes may include nutrition science, the digestion process, and vitamins and minerals. It will also include broad scientific fields, such as biology, chemistry, and anatomy.

Top Careers for Nutrition Experts

Nutritionist

  • Salary: $61,650
  • Education: Bachelor’s
  • Experience: None

Using your nutrition-based education, you’ll be able to move into a career as a nutritionist or dietician. These professionals assess the nutrition and diet needs of clients, provide diet and eating tips, and evaluate the impact of nutritional practices. They may also create educational material that supports healthy practices.

The minimum requirement for this career is a bachelor’s degree. But there is still a strong incentive to complete a master’s, as many of the top positions will require a more advanced degree to achieve licensing. The top 10% in this profession earn over $93,000; you are more likely to have a higher salary after completing a master’s in nutrition online programs. The growth for this career is expected to be 11% between 2020 and 2030, largely driven by an interest in nutrition for wellness and preventative care.

Medical Scientist

  • Salary: $95,310
  • Education: Doctoral
  • Experience: None

A medical scientist helps advance healthcare through experiment and innovation. They seek to improve overall healthcare by investigating and creating new ways of preventing or curing disease. From designing studies to writing papers about their finding, medical scientists are a crucial part of healthcare.

Besides the excellent pay and rewarding work, there are many benefits to becoming a medical scientist. Most noteworthy is the expected growth, which the BLS says will be 17% between 2020 and 2030. This growth, which will be driven by an aging population and increased rates of chronic disease, will result in 156,000 medical scientists by the year 2030. Roughly six in ten will work for research groups or colleges and universities.

Licensing Requirements for Working in Nutrition

Nutritionists and dietitians often need licensing. Almost all states require licensing to legally be called a “licensed dietitian nutritionist” or “registered dietitian”. You can follow the tradition pathway to licensure (Registered Dietitian) or a newer path, called a “Certified Nutrition Specialist” or “CNS,” a designation that is administered by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.

Some professions will require even more education beyond a master’s degree. A medical scientist, for example, will typically need a Ph.D. in biology or a related field. A doctorate in nutrition would apply to many important positions, although chemistry, microbiology, and epidemiology would certainly apply as well.

In most cases, you won’t need licensing for these careers unless you are directly administering care. If, for example, you are simply providing guidance and advice, you won’t need a license, at least not legally. (It may be required by some employers.) However, if you are administering drugs, providing therapy, or practicing direct care in any way, certification will be required.