Find your perfect college degree
Of the many trending topics, fitness, health, and wellness are clearly top priorities. Nutrition information has never been more available through various social media apps, influencers, channels, and podcasts. The demand for nutrition careers is increasing, with an expected growth rate of 7% from 2023 to 2033.
To be part of this progressive industries, you must earn a college degree. While a bachelor’s degree can help you apply for entry-level jobs, you might need an advanced/graduate degree in nutrition for higher-level roles.
A nutrition and dietetics program is best for students who want to professionally inform and support others in leading healthier lives. With a degree in nutrition, you can work as a dietitian or a nutrition educator, among many other positions.
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The Lowdown
An online degree in nutrition is a course of study that trains students to work in the field of nutrition. Depending on their degree level, students can use what they learn to pursue careers as educators, public health activists, dietitians, or nutritionists.
They focus on nutritious foods and can use their education to counsel people on leading healthy lives. Nutritionists collaborate with clients to develop nutrition regimens or to support those with medical conditions like diabetes.
If you want to earn a nutrition degree but can’t do it traditionally, you can earn one now entirely online.
The advantages of completing an online program in nutrition are similar to those of an on-campus degree program. Online nutrition programs allow students to enroll in classes from anywhere and help them save money on accommodation and tuition.
The only downside to online learning is that it may restrict you from hands-on learning experiences, such as internships and labs. But luckily, most online schools offer online students optional hands-on learning experiences.
Methodology
Pursuing an online degree is risky if you don’t do enough research. Some schools with an online degree in nutrition claim to be “the best” but don’t really meet the standards. You must be very careful in choosing an online program; otherwise, you only waste your time and money. We strive to help you have the best online education and gain all the necessary skills and knowledge to have an edge in this competitive field.
We used the following criteria to determine which online programs go in our ranking of the best online nutrition degrees:
- Approved by regional and programmatic accrediting agencies that set the academic requirements at undergraduate and graduate levels, such as:
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics or ACEND, and
- Accreditation Council on Nutrition Professional Education or ACNPE
- Features coursework
- Offers online classes through a Learning Management System that allows for convenient access to their Nutrition degree coursework,
- May offer optional hands-on/on-campus learning, particularly to meet specific clinical or laboratory requirements,
- Taught by distinguished professors who have contributed and continue to contribute to the discipline or industry,
- Provides online learners with financial aid, student support, and networking opportunities.
Please read our Methodology for a detailed look at the process behind our online Nutrition degree ranking process.
The 14 Best Online Nutrition Degree Programs
Arizona State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science
Arizona State University’s Online Bachelor of Science – Nutritional Science is an ACEND-accredited online degree program.
- Nutrition and dietetics are the two areas of emphasis of this online nutrition program.
- The nutrition emphasis is best for students who want to have an added focus on food and nutrition entrepreneurship and communication, journalism, and public relations.
- The dietetics degree is best for students who want to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).
- Regardless of concentration, students will explore topics on Biological & Biomedical Science, Education and Human Development, and Health, Nutrition, and Fitness.
- Students must complete 120 credit hours to earn this undergraduate nutrition degree.
- Students online will learn from the same experienced on-campus faculty.
What Makes This Program Unique:
This online degree program has two parts: Pre-Major and Major. The pre-major component helps students focus on building a foundation of knowledge of the field and other general education courses. The primary component, on the other hand, will allow students to focus on their emphasis.
Did You Know?
Students in some states are not accepted into this program. Before applying for ASU’s online degree in nutrition, check if your state is eligible.
Purdue University Global
Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
Purdue University Global, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with holistic nutrition concentrations approved by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).
- This program requires students to complete 180 hours of coursework.
- The curriculum was designed to help students shorten their path to a master’s degree in nutrition.
- The program has three flexible start dates.
- The coursework prepares students for various careers where their capabilities can dramatically improve the health and quality of life of others.
- Students explore topics in pharmacology, nutrition principles, food digestion, absorption, metabolism, and more.
- In addition to gaining practical knowledge, students will have the necessary managerial, moral, and professional abilities for leadership roles.
What Makes This Program Unique:
In addition to online coursework, this degree program allows its online students to participate in internships. The internship will enable students to add significant experience to their résumé and build professional skills. This opportunity is also one of the best ways to develop a professional network.
Did You Know?
Purdue produced over 237 faculty publications in 2020–2021.
University of Alabama
Online Bachelor of Science – Food and Nutrition
The University of Alabama’s Online Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition is an ACEND-accredited program. This 100% online program makes it perfect for full-time working adult students.
- This online nutrition program requires students to complete 120 credit hours, which can be taken in a 1-course per semester format.
- Before being admitted to the Food & Nutrition program, students should complete Introductory Chemistry and Organic Chemistry at their local community colleges.
- Community Nutrition, Nutrition at the Cellular Level, Management of Food Service Systems, Educational Statistics, and Purchasing, Design & Risk Management in Food Service Systems are some of the program’s required major credits.
What Makes This Program Unique:
The program allows students to apply for a recognized Dietetic Internship (DI) if they submit the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement, which attests to fulfilling educational criteria.
Every student who earns a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and satisfies the DPD requirements is given a Verification Statement.
Did You Know?
This program has a “Course Recency” requirement. Students with Applied Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy I, and Experimental & Functional Food Science courses from five years ago are not accepted as transfer credits.
Appalachian State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods
The Online BS in Nutrition and Foods at Appalachian State University is an ACEND-accredited program that allows part-time enrollment.
- This is a 120-credit hour program that accepts full-time and part-time students.
- Students will thoroughly study the relationship between nutrition and human health.
- The program has three areas: Education, Health Care, and Business.
- The program’s internship component allows students to showcase the theories and techniques they’ve learned about food and nutrition.
- Nutrition Education, Cultural Foods, and Nutrition Counseling are some of the program’s required courses.
- Students will minor in 12-18 courses, such as Global Studies, Public Health, Sustainable Development, Marketing, General Business, and Hospitality and Tourism Management.
What Makes This Program Unique:
App State’s online BS in nutrition and foods is among the cheapest online degree programs in the country. The affordability makes it the perfect online nutrition program for students with other financial obligations.
Did You Know?
This program was designed for students who want a broad-based degree in nutrition but are planning on becoming something other than registered dietitians.
Weber State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Education
Weber State University, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Education.
- Students explore courses in diet design, cultural sensitivity, fitness, and contemporary challenges.
- The sports nutrition concentration requires students to focus on athletic diet and nutrition, which includes exercise and sports science, advanced human nutrition, and physical education.
- The integrative nutrition concentration allows studies to study broader nutrition topics, including sustainable cooking, lifespan, fitness, and current issues.
- The curriculum can be fully customized based on your area of focus.
What Makes This Program Unique:
While several educational institutes in the state concentrate on medical dietetics, food, consumer, or nutrition science, WSU offers a nutrition education major in sports nutrition and integrative nutrition. These concentrations allow students to work in research labs and health and fitness facilities, among other fields.
Did You Know?
The program also offers a Bachelor of Integrated Studies. This curriculum has two majors: Nutrition and Exercise Science.
The nutrition major enhances your degree by teaching about nutrition for health promotion, disease prevention, and optimum human performance. In contrast, the exercise science major helps you assist people in preserving and improving their health and fitness while broadening your degree in two other fields.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Online Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
The Online Bachelor of Science in Dietetics at the University of Alaska Anchorage is fully accredited by the ACEND.
- Students will undergo a rigorous curriculum that will help them prepare for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) test.
- Online students will learn from highly productive and well-published dietetics program professors with expertise in food security, nutritional genomics, practice-based research, and Alaskan food assistance systems.
- Students must complete 120 credit hours, 39 of which should be upper-division courses.
- The curriculum equips students with a solid scientific background and courses in clinical and community nutrition, food science, communication, counseling, and more.
- Online students can easily access the on-campus facility.
- Academic advising, tutoring, and more student services are available.
What Makes This Program Unique:
Unlike other programs where students are left alone to decide on their dietetic internship, UAA provides each student with an academic advisor to help them carefully plan their internship. On top of this, students will also be guided in applying for a master of science in dietetics and nutrition.
Did You Know?
The school understands that four-year college education is costly. To help its students, they accept applicants currently enrolled in a community college and earning their prerequisites.
Kansas State University
Online Bachelor of Science – Nutrition and Health
The Online BS in Nutrition and Health at Kansas State University is accredited by the ACEND.
- The program requires students to complete 120 credit hours to graduate.
- The curriculum combines a passion for food and nutrition to help people achieve nutrition and health.
- Communications, Social Sciences, Sciences, Quantitative Studies, and Humanities are part of the curriculum.
- The significant courses explore topics that help students understand how nutrition, food, and diets affect people’s health.
- Students can design their curriculum by choosing courses in clinical nutrition, individual wellness, health care organization administration, allergies and intolerances, nutrition for sports, and more.
What Makes This Program Unique:
Students who want to earn a master’s degree while pursuing their bachelor’s can do so at KSU. This online bachelor’s degree can be earned while pursuing a master’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, sensory sciences, or public health.
However, students who have a previous bachelor’s degree are automatically disqualified for the concurrent degree program.
Did You Know?
K-state offers an easier way of knowing which previous courses are transferable to your planned degree. Applicants no longer have to reach admissions officers to determine transferable credits.
Instead, they can check how previous coursework from another approved college will transfer to K-State using the online resources provided by K-State. Students have the option of searching by curriculum or by course.
Huntington University of Health Sciences
Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
Huntington University of Health Sciences, accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Nutrition.
- Students are required to complete 120 credit hours online to graduate.
- The curriculum gives students a comprehensive nutrition science education, including science-backed alternative nutrition approaches.
- Additionally, the curriculum uses a twenty-first-century approach to finding a career in food and natural products.
- It includes instruction in current topics of alternative medicine, nutraceuticals, and vitamins & minerals, and elective coursework in herbal sciences and sports nutrition.
- Medical Terminology, Environmental Challenges and Solutions, Pathophysiology, and Functional and Clinical Assessment are some of the program’s core requirements.
What Makes This Program Unique:
This is one of the best online programs with generous transfer credits. Students who have earned nutrition degrees at other accredited institutions can transfer up to 90 credit hours to the bachelor’s degree program. Transferring credits allows students to have a more affordable education and faster graduation.
Did You Know?
The Huntington University of Health Sciences was initially named the American Academy of Nutrition in 1985.
University of Northern Colorado
Online Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
The University of Northern Colorado offers an ACEND-accredited Online Bachelor of Science in Dietetics designed for students who want to become RDNs.
- This degree program requires students to complete 120 credit hours of coursework to graduate, which includes a liberal arts foundation.
- Students study a wide range of studies about foods and nutrition that can be used in a variety of community and professional healthcare settings, as well as for food service in public, governmental, and private enterprises.
- The topics discussed include social, environmental, cultural, and psychological aspects of food accessibility and nutritional consumption concerning health care.
- In addition to the practical knowledge, students are trained to develop skills in interacting with others and addressing nutritional requirements at all stages of life.
What Makes This Program Unique:
Students with a bachelor’s degree in related fields who don’t want to earn another degree in dietetics can enroll in the Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate Program instead. The certificate program only requires students to complete six supplementary and nine prerequisite courses.
Did You Know?
UNC has a sought-after Liberal Arts curriculum, which covers the six general education requirements for undergraduate programs at all public institutions in Colorado.
Liberty University
Online Master of Science in Nutrition
Liberty University, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, offers an Online Master of Science in Nutrition.
- This undergraduate degree allows students to complete coursework 100% online with no required on-campus meetings.
- The curriculum was designed to help students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to offer nutritional advice that will improve people’s lives.
- The program only requires students to complete 36 credit hours to earn the degree, with an average completion time of one year.
- Students learn about the cultural, familial, and psychological factors that affect various nutrition-related illnesses.
What Makes This Program Unique:
This online master’s degree in nutrition does not restrict its students to nutritional sciences courses. Students can enroll in other classes — as long as they are related to population and health — to customize their degrees based on their career aspirations.
Did You Know?
Liberty University offers a few of the most affordable and accelerated degree programs. As a result, many working adult students prefer to study at Liberty.
American University
Online Master of Science in Nutrition Education
American University, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, offers one of the best Online Master of Science in Nutrition Education designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition.
- The program is one of the fastest online nutritional education MS degrees, with an average completion time of 12 months.
- The curriculum focuses on giving students the practical and theoretical training necessary for certifications and becoming Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNSs).
- The program provides students with various networking opportunities, most of which require students to be on campus.
- Students, alums, faculty, and staff are encouraged to openly discuss their interests, stories, and job openings.
What Makes This Program Unique:
This online master’s degree guarantees that its alums possess both nutrition science and behavior modification theories, a requirement for developing creative, healthy eating campaigns and community activities for healthy consumer behavior.
Students are trained to possess solid nutrition knowledge and be effective educators at the personal, corporate, and societal levels.
Did You Know?
Each student will have a faculty mentor that will help students in drafting resumes, finding jobs, and creating professional networks based on regional and professional interests.
North Carolina State University
Online Master’s Degree in Nutrition
With a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College accreditation, North Carolina State University offers an Online Master of Nutrition best for working adult students.
- Students must complete 36 required credits of coursework to earn the degree.
- 6 of the 36 credits require students to participate in internships created by the nutrition program and employers, or they may suggest new internships and employer-sponsored problem-based projects.
- The curriculum gives students a deep understanding of nutrition science and equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge to communicate scientific information and thrive in any professional setting.
- Students can choose between feed science or human nutrition concentration/emphasis.
- Because this program is an interdepartmental program, students can choose to add more credits.
What Makes This Program Unique:
The program offers a Professional Science Masters (PSM) designation developed in consultation with prospective and current employers. This program consists of various relevant courses and activities that promote career success.
Did You Know?
NCSU requires graduates to stay in touch with the program to follow their professional paths and aid in evaluating the outcomes and performance of the program.
The University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign
Online Master of Science Food Science & Human Nutrition
The University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, offers a non-thesis Online MS in Food Science and Human Nutrition.
- Students must complete 32 credit hours to earn the degree.
- This degree prepares students for an ever-changing field, including some of today’s best prospects.
- The average completion rate for part-time students is five years.
- The program is taught by devoted professors driven to see students succeed as leaders in their fields.
- Students are prepared to use scientific and engineering principles for food’s quantity, quality, diversity, appeal, and safety.
What Makes This Program Unique:
UI wants to be very hands-on with its online students. As a result, all classes in this online MS degree are delivered in synchronous online sessions, which means that students must attend lecture-based courses in real time.
Did You Know?
UI is known for its top-notch, non-thesis MS program, first taught on-campus in 1973.
University of Bridgeport
Online Master of Science in Human Nutrition
The University of Bridgeport offers an Accreditation Council on Nutrition Professional Education ACPE-accredited Online Master of Science in Human Nutrition.
- The program requires students to complete 35 credit hours, which will equip them with the necessary capabilities to help others achieve their health objectives.
- This program focuses more on a holistic approach to nutrition and health.
- Students will receive training on effectively offering personalized counseling in alternative and complementary medicine.
- The curriculum combines practical knowledge with skills in providing patient-centered, evidence-based care.
What Makes This Program Unique:
The program offers a dual degree option for chiropractic students. These students can enroll in the MS in nutrition while pursuing their Doctor of Chiropractic programs.
Did You Know?
UB’s MS in Nutrition is the first of its kind to receive accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Nutrition Professional Education (ACNPE).
Bachelor’s vs Master’s Degree in Nutrition
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in nutrition introduces students to various nutrition practices, studies, and methodologies. Students can immediately benefit from what they learn by using these techniques on themselves in addition to helping others.
Several employment options are available with a nutrition bachelor’s degree. Students who earn bachelor’s degrees can work as independent consultants for their firms or as nutritionists for humans, pets, or other species.
Master’s Degree
A master’s degree is a prerequisite for obtaining state licensure as a registered dietician or certified nutritionist. This degree level allows students to receive specialized courses and fields.
Students in a master’s degree program in nutrition obtain the necessary components of the field, such as vaccines, nutrition, and physiology.
Graduates can pursue a variety of careers. For instance, graduates can design health campaigns for patients and provide diet, health, immunizations, and stress management information. They can also pursue non-clinical positions, such as public health educators.
The Difference Between Nutritionists and Dietitians
Nutritionists and dietitians are two overlapping professions. While these professionals assist clients in selecting the healthiest diets and foods, they are trained for different things. For starters, nutritionists are not subject to the same regulations as dietitians; even those without formal education can legally use the title.
Dietitians are educated professionals who support nutritional health and use medical nutrition treatment to address medical disorders. On the other hand, nutritionists prioritize encouraging balanced lifestyles and good eating practices and are not allowed to provide medical care to ill people.
While nutritionists are frequently found in commercial settings like fitness and wellness centers and nutritional supplement companies, dietitians typically work in medical settings like hospitals and health clinics.
The general education requirements for nutrition and dietitian degrees are frequently the same. Yet as they progress, nutrition students will study more about nutrition modules, including organizing and evaluating nutrition programs, educating and promoting healthy eating, and eating for sports and physical activity.
Dietitian students study topics that are more closely tied to medicine, such as clinical biochemistry, medical nutrition therapy, and creating therapeutic diets. Furthermore, dietetics students are frequently required to complete a clinical experience, a community dietetics placement, and a food service-related placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any careers in Nutrition that do not require a degree?
Since the nutrition industry is not as regulated as the dietician industry, people without a degree can pursue the profession. Several business owners who inform people about nutrition principles can make good money without official training.
However, if someone wants to enter the workforce, it would be wiser to earn a degree to have the best chances of finding employment in the nutrition and wellness industries.
Do employers recognize online Nutrition and Dietetics degrees?
Employers rarely discredit online degrees, especially if they were earned from an accredited institution and the program itself is accredited by nutrition accrediting agencies. Most employers know the value of distance learning programs for students looking to improve their careers while working.
Employers are more likely to take prospective employees’ degrees seriously if they attended online universities with ACEND- or ACNPE-accredited online nutrition programs.
Will I have job security as a Nutritionist/Dietitian?
According to the BLS, employment for nutritionists and dietitians is expected to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033. This growth is primarily due to the increasing number of people valuing health and fitness highly.
So, the demand for skilled nutritionists to fill the posts will increase along with the need for preventative health measures and general wellness trends, giving you better job security.
Summary Points
- While a bachelor’s degree in nutrition/dietetics can open doors for various entry-level jobs, those who want to apply for higher-level positions and gain specializations should pursue a master’s degree.
- Nutritionists and dietitians work in the same field — nutrition — but have different responsibilities. Nutritionists usually work with individuals in commercial settings to offer nutritional advice or nutritional counseling. In contrast, a registered dietitian nutritionist typically works in healthcare settings to provide diet and nutrition plans for ill individuals.
- Accredited online degrees in nutrition and dietetics are as competitive as their on-campus counterparts and are recognized by employers.
Additional Information:
