Nutrition is becoming increasingly important in American culture. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay in 2021 for Dietitians and Nutritionists was $61,650. However, that’s taking into account people who have only earned a Bachelor’s degree. By earning a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Nutrition, you’ll be prepared for a number of different roles in public health. BLS also found that dietitian and nutritionist positions are expected to grow by seven percent from 2021 to 2031, which is as fast as average for all occupations.
The fight against obesity ranks very high among American public health issues, and the following degree programs will help you take the lead on it. Many chronic issues like diabetes, stroke and other pulmonary issues stem from diet and nutrition. Your nutritional MPH education will help you impact public health in more ways than you might imagine.
By earning your MPH online, you can save time and money. You’ll also be able to keep up with your current obligations, and more seamlessly transition into your new career opportunities. We ranked the public health nutrition programs on this list with the following methodology.
Methodology
Institutions in this ranking include private, not-for-profit and public schools which offer the best online MPH programs with a focus or specialization in Nutrition. None of the schools have been offered preferential treatment in the ranking, nor have any requested such. The methodology is fully disclosed so that any one person will be able to recreate the same ranking following the methodology and using the same sources. In some cases, when data was unavailable, an institution may have been omitted for those reasons. The following graphic explains the methodology in detail.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Online Master of Public Health Nutrition Degree
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $10,552/year in-state and $28,844/year out-of-state
UNC at Chapel Hill is a public, foundational American research university. It’s also the flagship school of the UNC system. Nearly 30,000 students attend Chapel Hill, which offers a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It was founded in 1789 and is one (if not the) oldest public school in the country. UNC offers 71 bachelor’s, 107 master’s and 74 doctoral degree programs. UNC’s notable faculty and alumni include 9 Nobel Prize laureates and 23 Pulitzer Prize winners.
The Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers an online MPH nutrition program. You’ll be prepared to analyze scientific evidence and its relation to dietary guidelines, and learn to explain nutrition to the public. Sample nutrition program courses include:
- Nutrition Policy
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Nutrition Across the Life Cycle
Students also choose three electives, or nine credits as part of this concentration. In total, it requires 42 credits and can be completed in 20-28 months. Students who want to become registered dietitians are advised to explore UNC’s online MPH/RD concentration. Graduates of this program work as:
- journalists
- fitness/health coaches
- consultants
- nutrition and health-policy experts
Prospective students can visit UNC Chapel Hill’s program webpage for more information.
2. University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst, Massachusetts
Master of Public Health in Nutrition
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $14, 364/year in-state and $31,489/year out-of-state
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research university based out of its namesake. It was established in 1863. It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in 111 undergraduate, 75 master’s and 47 doctoral programs through nine schools and colleges. It’s a member of the prestigious Five College Consortium in Massachusetts. UMass Amherst has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a university with the highest level of research activity. Over 32,000 students attend the school, and it has an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Amherst’s Minutemen and Minutewomen compete in the NCAA Division 1, offering 9 men’s varsity sports and 10 for women. Notable alumni include NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman and Nobel Prize winner in Physics Russell Hulse, among many others.
UMass Amherst offers a masters in public health nutrition online. It allows students worldwide to complete its premier program and earn the 44 credits they need to graduate it at their own pace, usually in three years or less. Students take 15 credits of public health courses, 17 credits that are nutrition-specific, and 12 credits in electives, practicums and project/additional courses. Public health nutrition masters students will work in interdisciplinary teams and build evidence-based approaches to nutrition. Critical thinking skills and experiential learning will be emphasized to solve community-based health problems like:
- obesity
- chronic disease
- malnutrition
- food insecurity
MPH nutrition online graduates have attested to the program’s flexibility and the ability to work full-time jobs and raise children while attending its part-time, online delivery format.
Students interested in participating can visit the UMass Amherst program website to get more information and details.
3. University of South Florida – Tampa, Florida
Online Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $8,350/year in-state and $19,048/year out-of-state
USF is a public research university headquartered in Tampa, Florida. It’s a member of the Florida state system and was founded in 1956. USF offers 80 undergraduate majors and more than 130 graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs through 14 colleges. It’s especially known for its graduate programs in areas like Public Health and Education. Over 49,700 students attend USF, which offers a 22:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The South Florida Bulls compete in NCAA Division 1 in the American Athletic Conference. They offer men and women 17 varsity sports. Notable alumni include comedian Assif Mandvi and MLB’s Tony LaRussa.
USF offers an online Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics. USF’s public health approach blends research, nutrition, and other disciplines to solve problems preventing the universal right to health. This program tackles “medical nutrition therapy, nutrition education, community practice and program evaluation, management and leadership, ethical standards and practice, and theoretical frameworks and models.”
Students complete an integrated dietetic internship as part of this program. Students will be prepared to take and pass the registration exam for dietitians and work as registered dietitian nutritionists in many areas of public health. The program comes in multiple timelines so students can choose a schedule that works for them. Masters of Public Health nutrition courses include:
- Nutrition and Dietetics Research
- Advanced Clinical Nutrition
- Methods of Nutritional Assessment
Prospective students can visit USF’s program website to get more info about their online MPH in Nutrition and Dietetics.
4. Appalachian State University – Boone, North Carolina
Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition Concentration (MS)
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $4,839/year in-state and $19,849/year out-of-state
Appalachian State University is a public university based in Boone, North Carolina. It was founded in 1899 as a teacher’s college. For 68 years, Appalachian State only offered education degrees. It then expanded its programming in 1967 and joined the University of North Carolina system in 1971. ASU now offers 174 undergraduate and 37 graduate majors. Its Distance Education unit is run by three off-campus centers, and its online programming (undergraduate and graduate) can be taken part-time. Over 20,600 students attend the school, which has a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Notable alumni include archaeologist and author Stanley South and FEMA administrator Brock Long. Its athletic teams are known as the Mountaineers and compete in NCAA Division 1 in 10 varsity men’s sports, and 10 women’s.
Appalachian State University offers an online Master of Science in Nutrition with a Public Health concentration. In it, the student will build research and critical thinking skills. Students get cutting-edge instruction about:
- food
- wellness
- public health
This masters in public health nutrition program can be taken in a synchronous or asynchronous format, adding to its online flexibility. It requires 39 credit hours and can be taken part-time. Students can complete their degree in two years by taking classes year-round. Graduates will be prepared to work as:
- Nutritional Epidemiologists
- Public Health Managers
- Directors of Food and Nutrition Services
The program has three start dates: in November, April, and July.
Students seeking more information can visit the Appalachian State University program website to get details.
5. Liberty University – Lynchburg, Virginia
Master’s in Nutrition Online
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $7,893/year
Liberty is a private, non-profit Christian doctoral research university in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school was founded in 1971 by religious leader Jerry Falwell. Currently, Liberty serves over 94,700 students worldwide and has an 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Liberty offers 290 bachelors, 315 masters, and 32 doctoral degrees through 17 colleges. Over 85% of Liberty students take classes online. LU has been classified as a doctoral research university by the Carnegie Classification. According to LU, it’s the nation’s largest nonprofit online university and has been at the frontier of distance learning since 1985. There are over 300 different degrees and certifications offered through Liberty’s online wing. Notable alumni include Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball and ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown host Samantha Ponder. The Liberty Flames compete in the NCAA Division I, offering 8 men’s varsity sports and 10 for women.
Liberty University offers an online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Nutrition. It will help students deal with the effects of:
- diabetes
- obesity
- eating disorders
You’ll study nutrition, food-borne illness techniques, and chronic diseases to discover how you can help people live more satisfying lives. Graduates with their MPH in nutrition will be prepared to work as:
- Health Educators
- Food Inspectors
- School Nutritionists
- Public Health Specialists
Liberty puts specific emphasis on helping students understand the necessary safety practices in the production and distribution of food. You’ll also gain significant tools needed to investigate food-borne diseases and illnesses.
Prospective students interested in the Liberty University – Online MPH (Nutrition) program may visit the school or use this link to get more information.
More From OnlineMastersinPublicHealth.com
If you enjoyed this ranking, please be sure to inspect our other Master of Public Health rankings. Here we’ve ranked the Top 25 Online MPH Programs in the country. They include:
- University of Florida
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of California, Berkeley
- Purdue University
- Indiana University Bloomington
You might also want to check out our rankings on online Biostatistics MPH degree programs. We’ve ranked the online Bachelor’s in Public Health Degree Programs, and Online Master’s Degree in Health Administration programs, too.
