Bachelor’s Degrees in Nutritional Science

College students face many day-to-day challenges, and having good health and nutrition is a start to studying nutritional science. Though we indeed live in a diet-obsessed culture, it is also undeniable that understanding nutrition has become an essential component in helping to keep populations healthy and living long and productive lives. The field of nutritional science seeks to understand how the human body responds physiologically and metabolically to food and diets. But it is so more logical now that we know that food isn’t just about eating or taste.  

The topic of nutritional science is political and social, as well, concerned with the production and delivery of food to make sure that individuals from all walks of life and communities have access to the nutrition that their bodies need. Subsequently, most degrees in nutritional science are interdisciplinary and draw on fields like sociology, psychology, and political science, as well as biology, kinesiology, and chemistry.

Individuals who pursue a degree in nutrition science typically wind up becoming dietitians, dietetic technicians, or licensed nutritionists. However, graduates with a degree in Nutritional Science can work in all kinds of areas, including athletics, government, or the private sector. Also, For students who have an undergraduate education in health, nutrition, and the sciences, a Master’s Degree in Nutrition is a logical next step.

Some jobs connected with a Bachelor's Degree in Nutritional Science are expected to grow faster, like dietitians or nutritionists. In fact, employment for nutritional experts is expected to grow at a 15 percent clip, which is twice the average rate. Other professionals, such as food scientists or individuals working in agriculture, can expect new positions in their fields to open around the national average of seven percent.

There's no better time to step into the field if you're passionate about nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. Check out Best College Reviews ' list of the 30 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Nutrition Science!

Top Nutritional Science Program Rankings

true Purdue University $12,117 100 BS in Nutrition

A large public research university, Purdue University is located in Lafayette, IN. The Department of Nutrition Science offers a Bachelor of Science with several concentration options. The DNS options include both a Coordinated and a Didactic Program in Dietetics which students can choose between. Students in the Coordinated program receive the required 1200 hours of supervised practice, while students in the Didactic program are qualified to apply for an internship after graduation.

Other options include a major in Foods and Nutrition in Business, Nutrition, and Fitness, and Health, Nutrition Science, in addition to a Nutrition Science-PreMed track. Another unique element of the program at Purdue is that any of the majors offered in the department can be paired with another major in the department so students can maximize their educational experience.

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true University of Texas at Austin $14,356 99.2 BS in Nutrition

The University of Texas at Austin is a large public research university. The College of Natural Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. The program includes six different options, making it one of the most flexible of its kind. Students can choose a Dietetics option which comes in two different forms: either a Didactic program or a Coordinated program.

Students can choose a Nutritional Sciences option, which focuses on research and prepares students for graduate study. The Nutrition and Public Health option prepares students for public service. The fourth and fifth options require admittance to the honors college and are honors versions of the Nutritional Sciences and Nutrition. The last option is the International Nutrition option, which provides a global frame for students.

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true University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $11,100 98.6 BS in Public Health

The flagship institution in the state university system, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university. The Department of Nutrition offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The program has a robust pre-med focus and can also equip students who want to go into public health professions but do not necessarily want to pursue the registered dietitian credential.

Admission to the program requires completion of UNC general education as well as several science prerequisites. Students must pass their biology, chemistry, and math prerequisites with a C or higher. The average GPA of incoming students was 3.7. Students take classes like Health Policy and Management, Nutrition Across the Lifecycle, and Human Metabolism: Macronutrients, among many others.

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true James Madison University $16,154 97 BS in Dietetics

Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public research university. The Department of Health Professions offers a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. The program is a Didactic Program in Dietetics, giving students the academic background needed to apply for a supervised practice internship, in preparation for becoming a Registered Dietitian.

Prospective students apply for the BSD during their second year at JMU and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. In the program, students take classes like Allied Health Microbiology, Quantity Food Production, and Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to be in good standing in the program, and classes in the major must be passed with a C or higher.

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true Ohio State University $18,042 96.6 BS in Human Nutrition

Consistently one of the largest institutions of higher learning in the country, Ohio State University is located in Columbus, OH. The Department of Human Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition with three different tracks available. Students can choose the Dietetics track, the Nutrition in Industry track, or the Nutritional Sciences track.

The DT option gives students the academic background necessary for students to enter the profession after pursuing a dietetic internship. The NI option is geared for students who are interested in the business of food science. The NS track is the most flexible of the options and gives a solid grounding in the sciences for people interested in pursuing additional graduate-level research or for entering a career in the field.

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University of Minnesota $16,808 96.6 BS in Nutritional Science

The University of Minnesota is a large research university located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Department of Food Science and Nutrition offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science among other programs. The program is designed for students who are interested in going to medical school, pharmacy school or dental school, or for students interested in further study in a graduate program.

Students take courses in the sciences from areas like biology, statistics, and microbiology. Core classes include Experimental Nutrition, Nutrition and Metabolism, and Life Cycle Nutrition. Students can also apply for the Integrated BS/Master of Science Plan B Nutrition Degree, whereby they can receive both a bachelors and masters within five years.

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University of Buffalo $16,120 96.3 BS in Dietitics

The University of Buffalo is a public research university and is a member of the State University of New York system. The Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. Students can either choose to follow the Didactic Program or the Dietitian Education Program. The DEP program provides both theoretical training as well as the 1,200 hours of supervised practice required to sit for exams.

The DP provides the academic requirements needed to apply for supervised practice hours after graduation. Students must have and maintain a 2.75 GPA for entrance and continuance in both programs. Classes include Applied Management in Dietetics, Life Cycle and Community Nutrition, and Integrative and Functional Nutrition.

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University of Washington $9,443 95.2 BA in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health

The University of Washington’s residential campus is located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest city of Seattle, WA. The School of Public Health offers a Bachelor of Arts in Food Systems, Nutrition & Health. The program is interdisciplinary and asks students to consider not only the human biological interactions with food, but also inquires into the larger social, cultural, and political contexts in which food is produced and consumed.

Core courses include Food Systems Modeling & Analysis, US Food Systems Policy, and Food Systems: Individual to Population Health. Students can also take classes from a wide range of disciplines, including not only the sciences, but also economics, communications, oceanography, political science, and philosophy.

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University of Connecticut $18,699 94.9 BS in Dietitics, BS in Nutritional Sciences

The University of Connecticut is a public research university with a large and diverse student body in Storrs, CT. UC offers a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences through the Department of Nutritional Sciences. The BSD is a Didactic program which gives students the needed academic background for applying for supervised practice.

The BSN degree is a science-focused degree which deals with nutrition from the molecular level up to the movement of the human body. Students can take classes like Interdisciplinary Approach to Obesity Prevention, Food, Culture, and Society, and International Studies in Nutritional Sciences in the program. The DNS also has two competitive scholarships for which students are encouraged to apply.

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University of Missouri $17,762 93.7 Dual BS in Nutrition and Food, MS in Diet

Located in Columbia, MO, the University of Missouri is a public research university with an annual enrollment of over 30,000 students. UM offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food as well as a BS-Master of Science in Dietetics. Students must apply to the five-year program in Dietetics to be able to complete the BSNF degree. The program is designed for students who want to become Registered Dietetics.

The first two years consist of general education and prerequisites; students then apply to the program and must have a 3.2 GPA. Once accepted, students can take classes like Medical Pharmacology, Nutrition Throughout the Life Span, and Community Nutrition, among others. The program includes both the academic and supervised practice required to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

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University of Pittsburgh $22,848 92.7 BS in Nutrition with Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Science awards a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science, in addition to a Co-ordinate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics. Both programs have been highly ranked for their excellence.

Starting in their Junior year, students can take classes like Pathophysiology & Human Disease, Live Cycle Nutrition, and Nutrition Critical Thinking. Admission to the degree requires 60 credits with a minimum of 2.5 GPA. This includes prerequisites in chemistry, statistics, biology, and mathematics. Students can work with experts in the field of athletic training, nutrition science, and dietetics.

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University of Vermont $19,815 91.9 BS in Nutrition and Food Sciences

The University of Vermont is located in Burlington, VT. UV is a public research university with a student population of over 11,000 each year. The Department of Nutrition of Food Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Sciences. The University designed its BSNFS for individuals interested in entering the food services industry, medical professions, and community health organizations.

The program requires 42-51 credits. Students can take classes like Human Health in the Food System, Nutritional Education & Counseling, and Nutrition in the Life Cycle. The department also offers a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Nutrition and Food Sciences for students who are interested in heading into the profession.

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University of Illinois at Chicago $11,884 91.8 BS in Nutrition

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a public research university that enrolls over 30,000 students each year. UIC offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with two tracks, a Coordinate Program which leads to the possibility of being registered as a dietitian, and the other is a Didactic program is offered as a foundation for any number of careers in the health professions or further study.

The Coordinate Program requires at least 1,200 hours of supervised practice. Students can take classes like Genetic, Molecular, and Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Disease, Quantity Food Production, and Nutrition During the Life Cycle. There are several different research labs sponsored by UIC, including the Center on Health Promotion, where students can participate in services and co-curricular experiences.

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Youngstown State University $10,637 91.8 BS in Applied Dietetics

Youngstown State University is located in the state of Ohio, with 12,000 students enrolled annually. YSU’s Bitonte College of Health and Human Services offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Dietetics. Students have two options, a Coordinated Bachelor’s Program in Dietetics and a Didactic Bachelor’s Program in Dietetics.

The CBPD requires 132 credits with 1,200 supervised hours. The DBPD requires 120 credits. Students can take classes like Medical Nutrition Therapy, Food Systems: Operation, Production, and Service, and Science of Nutrition in Exercise. Students have interned at sites like Salem Regional Medical Center and the St. Elizabeth Health Center, as well as the YSU Andrews Recreational Center.

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Wayne State University $13,287 91.7 BA/BS in Nutrition and Food Science BS in Dietetics

Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI, and is a public research university. WSU offers three different degrees in the nutrition sciences: a Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition & Food Science, a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Food Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. The BA is geared for individuals who are interested in non-technical positions.

The BSNFS is designed for students interested in technical positions in food processing, manufacturing, and research and development in the field. The BSD is designed especially for students who intend to become a Registered Dietitian and includes 1,200 practical hours, which makes it ideal for those seeking certification.

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