Culinary nutrition combines food preparation with nutrition science, teaching students to turn dietary guidance into meals people will cook and eat. It appears as a bachelor’s major or track, a master’s concentration, or a certificate, and it is a different thing from a culinary arts degree. Each program in the table below is listed because the school’s own pages name a culinary, culinary nutrition, or culinary medicine program, track, concentration, or emphasis within a nutrition degree.
Most culinary nutrition programs are not accredited by ACEND and do not make a graduate eligible for the registered dietitian exam. At several of these schools the culinary major sits beside the dietetics route rather than inside it, so check the profile to see whether you would need a separate dietetics program to reach the RD credential. The RD Pathway column describes each school’s route, which is not always the same program as the culinary track.
Culinary Nutrition Programs at 11 Schools
| School | Culinary nutrition program | Credentials | RD Pathway | Format | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University Clemson, SC | M.S. Food, Nutrition and Culinary Sciences, Food and Culinary Sciences track | BS, MS, PhD | Partial DPD verification statement only, then an outside internship; the non-thesis M.S. supplies the master's | Campus | $654/credit |
| Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY | B.S. Food and Nutrition, Culinary Nutrition and Food Management concentration | BS | Partial DPD verification statement only, then an outside internship and a master's | Campus | $444/credit |
| Johnson & Wales University Providence, RI | B.S. Culinary Nutrition | BS, MS, Certificate | Yes via the M.S. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND candidacy status) | Online, Hybrid, Campus | $842/credit |
| Lehman College Bronx, NY | B.S. Culinary and Community Nutrition (non-RD) | BS, MS | Yes via the Dietetic Internship with the M.S. (after a DPD) | Hybrid, Campus | $470/credit |
| Life University Marietta, GA | B.S. Nutrition, Culinary track (non-RD) | BS, MS | No confirmed pathway | Campus | $310/credit |
| National University of Natural Medicine Portland, OR | M.S. Nutrition, Culinary concentration | BS, MS | No no ACEND-accredited program | Online, Campus | $538/credit |
| Oakwood University Huntsville, AL | B.S. Nutrition with Vegetarian Culinary Emphasis | BS, MPH, Certificate | Yes DPD + internship | Online, Hybrid, Campus | $598–$805/credit |
| Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO | M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics, Culinary Entrepreneurship concentration | BS, MS | Yes via the M.S. with the Dietetic Internship (after a DPD) | Campus | $1,450/credit |
| Samford University Birmingham, AL | B.S. Culinary and Wellness Nutrition Management | BS, MS, Certificate | Yes M.S. Dietetics or internship | Online, Hybrid, Campus | $976–$1,425/credit |
| Saybrook University Pasadena, CA | M.S. Integrative and Functional Nutrition, Culinary Nutrition specialization | MS, PhD, Certificate | No no ACEND-accredited program | Online | $1,497/credit |
| University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | Graduate Certificate in Applied Nutrition and Culinary Medicine (online) | BS, MS, PhD, Certificate | Yes via the Accelerated Coordinated Program, or a DPD plus a master's and internship | Online, Campus | $806–$842/credit |
The table lists only schools with a profile on this site, so it is not every culinary nutrition program in the country. Costs are per credit as published on each profile, and each school name links to the full profile with curriculum, admission, accreditation, and cost details.
How to Choose a Culinary Nutrition Program
Decide whether you need the RD credential
If you want to work as a dietitian, look at the RD Pathway column first and read the profile to see how the culinary program relates to the dietetics program at the same school. If you want to teach cooking, develop recipes, work in food service or wellness settings, or support clients without the credential, a non-RD culinary nutrition degree can fit.
Match the level to the role
The table mixes bachelor’s majors and tracks with master’s concentrations. A bachelor’s adds hands-on food preparation to a nutrition core, while a master’s concentration builds on a prior degree and usually emphasizes clinical or integrative nutrition. Each profile lists the credits and duration.
Ask about kitchen time
Programs differ in how much cooking is part of the degree. Look for teaching kitchens, lab courses in food preparation, and whether the culinary work is required or only an elective, and check the profile for what the school publishes.
Compare cost and delivery
Per-credit prices range widely between public and private schools, and hands-on kitchen courses can limit how much of a program is available online. The Format column shows whether a program is campus-based, online, or hybrid.