The University of Northern Colorado offers 5 nutrition credentials:
- B.S., Dietetics
- B.S., Nutrition
- Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate
- M.S., Dietetics
- M.S., Dietetics with Dietetic Internship
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. Dietetics | $51.4K / $116.8K | 4 years (8 semesters); online completion 18 months (5 terms) | 120 |
| B.S. Nutrition | $51.4K / $116.8K | 4 years (8 semesters) | 120 |
| Certificate | $17.0K | 18 months (5 terms) | 31 at UNC |
| M.S. | $23.2K | About 20 months (4 semesters) | 32 |
| M.S. with DI | $29.8K | Under 2 years (accelerated) or under 3 years (traditional) | 41 |
UNC’s defining advantage is that the entire dietitian route can be completed at a distance: an online Didactic Program in Dietetics, then an online master’s with an ACEND-accredited distance internship at sites the student chooses near home. Only the Dietetics degrees, the certificate, and the internship are ACEND-accredited; the B.S. in Nutrition does not lead toward the RDN.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Two bachelor’s degrees, a DPD-only certificate, two online master’s |
| Format | B.S. Dietetics: Campus or Online. B.S. Nutrition: Campus. Certificate and M.S.: Online. M.S. with DI: Hybrid |
| Credit Hours | 120 (bachelor’s); 31 at UNC (certificate); 32 (M.S.); 41 (M.S. with DI) |
| ACEND Accreditation | Yes: DPD (B.S. Dietetics and certificate) and the Dietetic Internship |
| RD/RDN Eligibility | Yes via the M.S. with DI. The DPD is coursework only; the B.S. Nutrition does not qualify |
| Supervised Practice | M.S. with DI: at least 1,000 hours at sites the student secures, near home |
| Intake | Fall only for the online DPD, both master’s, and the internship |
| GPA Floor | 3.0 for a DPD verification statement and for both master’s |
| Entrance Exams | GRE not required |
| Tuition | Campus per semester (15 credits): $6,427 resident, $14,604 non-resident. Online: $549 (undergraduate), $726 (graduate) per credit |
| Institutional Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
Bachelor of Science, Dietetics
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Dietetics at the University of Northern Colorado is approximately $51,416 for Colorado residents on campus (eight 15-credit semesters at $6,427 in tuition and fees after the College Opportunity Fund stipend). The program requires 120 credits and can generally be completed in 4 years (8 semesters) on campus, or in 18 months of online core coursework for students transferring in their other credits.
B.S. Dietetics Curriculum
The degree has three parts: 31 credits of general education, a 75-credit major, and 14 to 30 credits of electives. Several recommended general education courses also count toward the major, which frees elective space.
Science and business in one major. The major pairs a full chemistry sequence through biochemistry with a lab component on most upper-division nutrition courses. It also requires two business courses, management and marketing, which is unusual for a dietetics degree and reflects the foodservice management side of dietetic practice.
Two delivery routes, one accredited program. The on-campus version runs in Greeley. The online Distance Dietetics Program delivers the same 15 core courses (31 credits) to a fall cohort over five consecutive terms, including summer. Online students complete general education and remaining prerequisites elsewhere, often at a local community college, and transfer them in.
- FND 250 Principles of Nutrition
- FND 310 and 310L Introduction to Foods, with lab
- FND 320 and 320L Nutrition Applications in Foodservice, with lab
- FND 430 and 430L Nutrition Assessment and Intervention, with lab
- FND 431 and 431L Medical Nutrition Intervention, with lab
- FND 446 and 446L Foodservice Systems Management, with lab
- FND 451 Advanced Nutrition
- FND 452 Community Nutrition
- CHEM 381 and 381L Principles of Biochemistry, with lab
- BAMK 360 Marketing
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- A DPD verification statement requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA (or 3.0 in DPD courses or the last 60 credits) and a C or better in every required course.
- Students cannot earn both the B.S. in Dietetics and the B.S. in Nutrition at UNC.
- Coursework more than 10 years old may not count toward the major.
- UNC cites “above-average” internship placement but publishes no figures; outcome data are available on request.
B.S. Dietetics Admissions
Campus students enter through standard UNC undergraduate admission. The online route has a fall-only cohort with limited seats and a prerequisite list.
- Online applicants apply to UNC, then complete a Distance Dietetics supplemental form
- Applications are accepted up to one year before each fall start
- Online prerequisites, C or better: principles of biology, anatomy and physiology with lab, general and organic chemistry, medical terminology, introductory nutrition, psychology, statistics
- Second-degree students may transfer up to 90 credits; an associate or bachelor’s degree waives general education
Bachelor of Science, Nutrition
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Nutrition at the University of Northern Colorado is approximately $51,416 for Colorado residents (eight 15-credit semesters at $6,427 in tuition and fees after the College Opportunity Fund stipend). The program requires 120 credits and can generally be completed in 4 years (8 semesters), on campus in Greeley only.
B.S. Nutrition Curriculum
This is the non-accredited sibling of the Dietetics degree, built for students headed to medicine, physician assistant, public health, or nursing programs, or to food and wellness careers. It shares the science base (biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry) but leaves more room for electives in sports, community, and life-cycle nutrition.
- Biochemistry
- Nutrition Education
- Maternal and Child Nutrition
- Community Nutrition
- Nutrition for Fitness and Athletic Performance
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The B.S. in Nutrition is not an ACEND program and does not produce a DPD verification statement. Students who later choose the RD route would need the DPD certificate or a graduate program that includes DPD coursework.
Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate at the University of Northern Colorado is approximately $17,019 (31 credits at $549/credit, the same for all states). The program requires 31 credits at UNC and can generally be completed in 18 months (5 consecutive terms).
Certificate Curriculum
This is the online DPD without a second bachelor’s degree, for career changers who already hold a degree in another field. Students take the same 15 core courses as the online B.S. and receive a DPD verification statement on completion.
The full DPD requires 75 credits of coursework in total. Most applicants transfer in the balance, including management, marketing, microbiology, biochemistry, and scientific writing, which UNC advisors map during admission.
You Should Know
- Federal financial aid is not available for the stand-alone certificate. UNC points students to private loans and a monthly payment plan.
- Applicants choose “Dietetics: Exploring (B.S.)” on the UNC application, then select the certificate on the supplemental form.
Master of Science, Dietetics
The estimated tuition for the M.S. in Dietetics at the University of Northern Colorado is approximately $23,232 (32 credits at $726/credit, the same for all states). The program requires 32 credits and can generally be completed in about 20 months (4 semesters), with summers off.
M.S. Curriculum
The online master’s covers nutrition assessment and intervention, macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism, counseling methods, public health, and dietetic research, plus electives. It satisfies the CDR graduate degree requirement but includes no supervised practice. It suits DPD graduates who already hold an internship spot elsewhere and practicing RDNs.
M.S. Admissions
Admission requires a completed DPD, a signed intent to complete one, or current RDN status.
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA; applicants below 3.0 may be considered
- All applicants need a combined 3.0 GPA in DPD courses, with a C or better in each
- Priority deadline March 15, which also sets scholarship and assistantship consideration; standard deadline April 15
Master of Science, Dietetics with Dietetic Internship
The estimated tuition for the M.S. in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship at the University of Northern Colorado is approximately $29,766 (41 credits at $726/credit, the same for all states). The program requires 41 credits and can generally be completed in under 2 years on the accelerated timeline or under 3 years on the traditional one.
M.S. with DI Curriculum
Students take the same online master’s coursework as the stand-alone M.S., plus internship coursework that must be completed at UNC. The two timelines differ in when rotations begin.
- Traditional: coursework in fall and spring for under two years, then the internship starts the following summer
- Accelerated: one year of coursework, then rotations from the first summer alongside the remaining courses
- Internship concentration options: nutrition education and counseling, management, or ICU
M.S. with DI Supervised Practice
- At least 1,000 hours: 300 to 400 each in clinical, foodservice, and community, plus 100 to 200 in the concentration
- 40 to 80 hours of long-term care, counted within clinical or foodservice
- Most clinical hours must be at a JCAHO- or DNV-approved hospital with 80 or more beds, under an RDN preceptor
- Students identify and secure their own sites and preceptors; UNC helps with contacts
- Paid rotation sites are allowed
- Up to 200 hours may be completed remotely; all hours must be in the United States, its territories, or on military bases
- Assessment of Prior Learning can cut up to 220 foodservice or community hours, but not credits or tuition
The distance model lets students train where they live, and allowing paid sites can offset lost income during rotations. The trade-off is effort: finding and contracting preceptors falls to the student, which is harder in rural areas. UNC reports a 100 percent completion rate over the last five years, which suggests the placement burden is manageable for those admitted.
M.S. with DI Admissions
Admission runs through the national DICAS application, with one fall start and an early route for UNC students.
- DPD verification statement required by the start of the internship
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA; GRE not required
- DICAS opens in August; deadline February 1; decisions by March 1; reply by March 10
- UNC students and alumni can apply for early admission by December 15
You Should Know
- The program page gives timelines under 2 and under 3 years but lists an official program duration of 3.5 years. The longer figure is the completion window, not the expected length.
- The traditional timeline allows working during coursework; the accelerated timeline allows it only for the first nine months.
- F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program.
- UNC must confirm the program meets licensure requirements in the state where a student lives at enrollment; check its licensure page before applying from outside Colorado.
Tuition
UNC bills campus undergraduates per credit: $505.75 for Colorado residents, or $389.75 after the $116-per-credit College Opportunity Fund stipend. Above 12 credits, each added credit costs only $180.25 in tuition, so a 15-credit semester is the efficient load. Non-residents pay $13,047 for a 15-credit semester, about $870 per credit (derived). Extended Campus online programs charge one rate regardless of residency: $549 per credit for undergraduate courses and $726 for graduate courses, with no student or technology fees.
| Credential | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| B.S., campus, 4 years | $51,416 | $116,834 |
| Online DPD (UNC portion) | $17,019 | $17,019 |
| M.S., 32 credits | $23,232 | $23,232 |
| M.S. with DI, 41 credits | $29,766 | $29,766 |
Campus totals assume eight 15-credit semesters at 2026–27 rates, including $1,557.25 a semester in mandatory fees. Rates are published on UNC’s tuition and fees page and each online program page.
Confirmed costs
- Campus fees per semester (10+ credits): student services $725.80, capital $593, LEAF $10, plus technology at $15.23 per credit
- One-time new student success fee: $260 (undergraduates)
- Online programs: no student or technology fees; some field courses carry course fees
- Graduate assistantships, when available, include a stipend plus a tuition and partial fee waiver for up to 10 credits a semester
Be aware that:
- Differential tuition applies to some science and other non-general-education courses on campus. UNC’s cost estimates add about $338 a year for differential tuition and course fees, which the totals above exclude.
- UNC auto-enrolls degree-seeking students in its health insurance plan (undergraduates at 9+ credits, graduate students at 6+). It can be waived with comparable coverage.
- The College Opportunity Fund stipend is not automatic; residents must apply and authorize it, or the bill is $116 a credit higher.
- The online DPD total covers only the 31 UNC credits. General education and prerequisites taken elsewhere cost extra.
- Online rates are set for 2026–27; UNC sets 2027–28 rates in mid-June 2027.
For a Colorado resident starting from scratch, the campus B.S. followed by the M.S. with DI costs about $81,200 in tuition and fees to reach RDN eligibility. A career changer with a prior bachelor’s pays about $46,800 for the online certificate and the M.S. with DI, plus any prerequisites. Non-residents save the most by going online, because Extended Campus rates ignore residency.
Why Choose This Nutrition Program?
Best suited for working adults and career changers who want a complete dietitian route without moving to a campus.
The whole route at a distance. A student can complete the DPD online, then the master’s coursework online, then an accredited internship at sites near home. UNC started its distance internship in 1995 and allows paid rotation sites, which it says few internships do.
A campus option with the same accreditation. Traditional first-year students get the same DPD in Greeley, with small classes and a faculty mentor from the first year. They can then apply to UNC’s internship through an early-admission route before the national DICAS deadline.
Where the fit breaks down. Every stage is gated: a 3.0 GPA for verification, fall-only starts, and a competitive internship application. Students must find their own preceptors, which takes persistence outside metro areas. The B.S. in Nutrition sits next to the Dietetics degree but does not lead to the RDN.
The verdict is about workload. Someone who can hold a job through 20 months of online coursework, then commit to about 1,000 hours of rotations, can reach RDN eligibility here without relocating. Someone who needs placements arranged for them should look elsewhere.
Accreditation
The University of Northern Colorado is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the seven regional accreditors. HLC accreditation covers every UNC degree and governs credit transfer, graduate admission elsewhere, and federal financial aid eligibility.
ACEND accredits two UNC programs. The Didactic Program in Dietetics, delivered through the B.S. in Dietetics (campus and online) and the Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate, is accredited through 2030. The Dietetic Internship, offered on its own or inside the M.S. in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship, is also fully accredited.
The B.S. in Nutrition and the stand-alone M.S. in Dietetics fall outside ACEND’s scope. That is normal for a pre-health bachelor’s and a coursework-only master’s, and both remain useful: the M.S. meets the graduate degree requirement for DPD graduates who complete supervised practice elsewhere.
Graduates of the DPD receive a verification statement and may apply to accredited supervised practice programs. Graduates of the M.S. with Dietetic Internship hold a master’s degree and an internship verification statement, and are eligible for the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s RDN examination. Colorado does not license dietitians, so graduates who plan to practice elsewhere should check their state’s requirements.
Compare More Nutrition Programs in Colorado
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