Best HBCU Nutrition Programs
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Nutritionists and dietitians help people and communities lead healthier lives through food and diet. Nutrition programs give you the knowledge to understand food and nutrition and the skills to share and apply that information with your clients.
The more we grasp the importance of healthy and situational diets, the more in-demand nutrition professionals will become. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth for dietitians and nutritionists between 2021 and 2031, faster than the average growth for all occupations.
For more than 175 years, historically Black colleges and universities have had a measured impact on the nation's educational and professional diversity. But many professions still lack representation, including the nutrition field. According to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), Black and African Americans only make up 3% of professionals who registered for the CDR exam in 2020.
HBCU nutrition programs can help address this inequity. A more diverse nutrition and dietitian workforce will help the field become more culturally competent. HBCUs add value to the education of nutritionists and dietitians as well, injecting more diverse perspectives and situations into the learning and practical training experiences.
What Is the Difference Between Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science?
Dietetics, nutrition, and food science all have considerable overlap, but there are some differences that may help you choose between these fields.
Dietetics typically has a clinical component that allows you to link your nutritional work to healthcare. Nutrition focuses more on individual diet plans and healthy living. Food science explores the production and sustainability of food.
Dietitian, food scientist, and nutritionist salaries vary depending on your employer and qualifications. Typically, licensed nutritionists require a master's in nutrition, and licensed dietitians will need a master's beginning in 2024.
An HBCU nutrition program can lead to many nutrition careers, including with employers that recruit HBCU talent. Here are a few of the more popular routes available:
- Clinical dietitian/nutritionist
- Community dietitian/nutritionist
- Food scientist
- Food technologist
Best HBCU Nutrition Programs
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North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
The largest HBCU in the country, N.C. A&T has a BS in food and nutritional sciences with two concentrations: food science and human nutrition. The human nutrition concentration has nutrition and pre-medicine tracks.
The nutrition programs run through the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, one of the oldest departments in the school and one of the few accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
N.C. A&T also has more than 10 nutrition-related research labs, including the Human Nutrition and Performance Lab, the Community Nutrition and Health Disparities Lab, and the Molecular Nutrition Laboratory.
Howard University
Washington, DC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Founded in 1867, Howard is one of the oldest HBCUs in the country and a leader in STEM. The BS in nutritional sciences includes concentrations in dietetics, health education, management, and pre-medicine/pre-dentistry.
Howard's dietetics concentration is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Not only does it qualify you for the CDR examination for dietitians, but Howard also offers a standalone three-semester practicum to help you meet the clinical requirements for registration.
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
FVSU was founded in 1895 and offers more than 40 undergraduate programs, including a BS in family and consumer sciences with a food and nutrition concentration. FVSU is one of the top 10 colleges producing African-American graduates in this field.
FVSU offers you one of the lowest in-state tuition rates at just over $2,500 per semester. The school also runs one of only two food science bachelor's programs in the state.
Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, TX - 4 years
- Online + Campus
PVAMU was founded in 1876, making it the second-oldest public university in Texas. The school's BS in dietetics has three concentrations, including a food service management track, a health and wellness track, and an ACEND-accredited registered dietitian track. Each concentration features a semester-long internship.
Students in this HBCU nutrition program have access to PVAMU's Cooperative Agricultural Research Center. The school also runs Heroes4Health, an initiative that offers nutrition- and wellness-related instruction and events to the neighboring communities.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Delaware State University
Dover, DE - 4 years
- Online + Campus
DSU started as the State College for Colored Students in 1891. The school now has nearly 50 undergraduate programs, including a BS in food and nutritional sciences. This program features concentrations in nutritional science, food science, and dietetics, which is ACEND-accredited.
DSU has plenty to offer you as a nutrition student, including access to the Food Microbiology and Microbial Omics lab and the Food Chemistry Lab. The school has small class sizes, around 16 students, and tuition rates are about $3,500 per semester.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Founded in 1881, TU has grown from a class of 30 in a single-room shanty to more than 3,000 students in over 64 programs. The department of food and nutritional sciences has several bachelor's programs, including food science, nutritional science, public health nutrition, and dietetics.
This TU department also houses one of only two NASA-funded centers for space food science, plus an agricultural experiment station and an integrative sustainability center. While it has the resources of a larger school, TU keeps its classrooms small and engaging at around 13 students.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Alcorn was founded in 1871 and is the oldest land-grant HBCU in the country. The school's Department of Human Sciences offers two degrees, including a bachelor's in food, nutrition and community health sciences.
Alcorn tends to keep class sizes at around 15 students per teacher. The school also features an affordable tuition rate of $4,000 per semester. Alcorn has an industrial laboratory kitchen for the internship and practical components of the HBCU nutrition program.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
University of the District of Columbia
Washington, DC - 4 years
- Campus
UDC's roots go back to 1851 with the Miner Normal School. The school's 81 programs include a BS in nutrition in dietetics that prepares graduates for the CDR credentialing exam. This is the only ACEND-accredited dietetics program in Washington, D.C.
With tuition rates under $4,000 per semester, UDC has the lowest tuition rate in Washington, D.C. The school also hosts the Center for Nutrition, Diet, and Health, which runs community education and training programs.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Founded in 1875, AAMU has 60 programs across four colleges. The College of Agricultural, Life, and Natural Sciences offers a nutrition and hospitality program with two concentrations: hospitality management and a general or didactic program in dietetics.
As a full-time student, you'll pay a little over $300 per credit. AAMU also has a food science program with employment and graduation rates between 80% and 90%, respectively — some of the highest numbers in the industry.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
SCSU was founded in 1896 and is the only public HBCU in the state. The school's BS in nutrition and food management offers a didactic program in dietetics and a food management track. SCSU offers the only ACEND-accredited program in South Carolina.
At SCSU, you'll pay just over $11,000 per year in tuition. As a food and agricultural sciences student, you'll be eligible to apply for the Agriculture Innovation Scholarship program, which awards up to $10,000 a year.
ROI Value Score: Medium
We’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Frequently Asked Questions about HBCU Nutrition Programs
The following section answers some of the pressing questions you may have while searching for HBCU nutrition programs.
Is there a difference between a nutritionist and a registered dietician?
Yes. While there can be differences in their roles, the major difference between nutritionists and dietitians is education. Beginning in 2024, registered dieticians will need a master's degree at minimum to practice, whereas nutritionists do not.
Dietitians must pass the CDR exam to become a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). These credentials qualify them to work in clinical settings. Meanwhile, nutritionists in some states need the Certified Nutrition Specialist designation, which requires passing the American Nutrition Association's (ANA) exam.
Are there any accreditation requirements for nutrition programs?
Yes. To become a nutritionist or a dietitian with professional certification and state licensure, you need to graduate from an accredited school and program.
To write the CDR exam and become an RD or RDN, you must graduate from an ACEND-accredited program. To write the ANA exam, you must graduate from a graduate program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Nutrition Professional Education.
Currently, ACEND-accredited programs include only bachelor's degrees, but that will change to include graduate programs by 2024.
What types of classes can I expect to take in an HBCU nutrition program?
Most HBCU nutrition programs start you with a strong science foundation, including courses in biology, chemistry, and physiology. You will then delve into the fundamentals of nutrition and human biochemistry.
In upper-division courses, you will branch out and learn about special interest topics, such as experimental diet planning, food microbiology, and food insecurity. Depending on the program, you may focus on agriculture, community health, or food laws and regulations.
What factors should I consider when choosing an HBCU for a nutrition program?
When choosing an HBCU nutrition program, you should focus first on accreditation. Ensure your program meets the professional and state requirements for your desired field.
Next, look at the program curriculum and confirm it has the courses and concentrations that interest you. Some possible nutrition subfields include holistic nutrition, sports nutrition, pediatric or geriatric nutrition, and eating disorders.
Other factors to consider include program cost, financial aid, and program delivery methods. You may also want to look at the faculty and the facilities available to you.
How do HBCU nutrition programs prepare students for the job market?
Accredited HBCU nutrition programs prepare you for nutrition jobs by equipping you with industry and state-recognized training and skills. Along with qualifying for certification exams and state licensing, you can gain practical experience working in HBCU labs, nutrition research centers, and student nutrition initiatives.
HBCUs also have powerful alumni networks, career services teams, and mentorship programs that you can take advantage of. These schools run job preparation workshops, career fairs, and networking events to promote their students and improve their outcomes.
