Six universities with profiled nutrition programs serve the Chicago area: UIC, Rush, IIT and Loyola in the city, Dominican in River Forest, and Benedictine in Lisle. Between them they list 19 credentials. Published or derived prices run from $18,970 for Loyola’s internship certificate to about $157,800 for four years of Benedictine’s bachelor’s, and durations run from 12 months to four years.
Only three of the six currently offer a clear route to the RD credential. UIC runs a master’s-level Coordinated Program, Rush runs an integrated master’s that takes applicants without a DPD, and Loyola pairs a master’s with a dietetic internship for applicants who already hold a verification statement. Dominican’s older master’s route has closed and its MBA route could not be confirmed, Benedictine’s master’s and internship have closed, and IIT has no dietetics program.
Nutrition Programs in Chicago: Comparison Table
| School | Credentials | Est. Cost | Format | RD Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago | M.S. Nutrition, Coordinated Program: 36 credits Accelerated M.S./CP: UIC graduates B.S. Nutrition Science: DPD M.S. Nutrition: traditional, non-RD | About $44.3K in tuition plus differential over six semesters, in-state (derived) | Hybrid (M.S.); Campus (B.S.) | Yes: Coordinated Program, any bachelor’s with prerequisites |
| Rush University Chicago | M.S. Clinical Nutrition, Dietetic Integrated: 48 credits M.S. Clinical Nutrition: online, non-RD | $50,208 for the integrated track (derived); $31,380 for the online M.S. | Campus; Online (non-RD M.S.) | Yes: integrated track, accepts non-DPD applicants |
| Loyola University Chicago Maywood | M.S. in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship: 37 credits Dietetic Internship Certificate: master’s holders M.S. in Dietetics: non-RD | $50,135 for the M.S./DI; $18,970 for the certificate | Campus | Yes: after a DPD from another school |
| Dominican University River Forest | M.S. Coordinated Program: closed from June 2026 MBA with Coordinated Program: 48 credits B.S., certificate, M.S. Nutrition, and a closing practice pathway | MBA route about $39.0K to $40.2K (derived) | Hybrid and online | Confirm: M.S. route closed; MBA route’s 2026-27 status unconfirmed |
| Benedictine University Lisle | B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics: DPD Two M.S. programs: closed to new students | B.S. $39,450 a year (flat, full-time) | Campus | Not on its own: DPD only; internship closed June 2026 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago | M.S. Nutrition Science: thesis-based research degree | $57.8K to $61.6K in tuition (derived, 30 to 32 credits) | Campus | No: no ACEND program |
Costs are each profile’s published or derived totals at 2026-27 rates. UIC’s figure is in-state tuition plus the nutrition differential only, and fees add about $14,000 over six semesters. Dominican’s MBA rate differs by page, which accounts for its range. Other Illinois programs are on the Illinois nutrition programs page.
Which Chicago Nutrition Program Fits You
Choose UIC if you hold a bachelor’s in any field and can finish about thirteen prerequisite courses, including organic chemistry and biochemistry, before the December 15 deadline. The program starts only in August.
Choose Rush if you are a career changer who wants hospital-based training in a 20-month on-campus program and can apply by February 1. Check that you are not applying to the online M.S. by mistake, because it carries the same degree title and no credential.
Choose Loyola if you already hold a DPD verification statement and want the master’s and internship together in about 21 months. Loyola has no DPD, so a career changer must finish that coursework elsewhere first.
Choose Dominican only after confirming the MBA route is still admitting, since its M.S. Coordinated Program stopped taking students in June 2026. Choose it for the dietetics and business pairing and a class of about 15.
Choose Benedictine if you want an accredited bachelor’s in the western suburbs and will plan the master’s and internship elsewhere. Choose Illinois Tech for a research master’s in nutrition science, not for dietetics.
Chicago Nutrition Schools
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago; Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences; hybrid master’s and campus bachelor’s.
- M.S. in Nutrition, Coordinated Program: 36 credits, six semesters, fall start
- Accelerated M.S./CP: 12 to 15 months, 18 reserved spots for UIC Nutrition Science graduates
- B.S. Nutrition Science (DPD) and a traditional M.S. that is not an RD route
ACEND lists both the Coordinated Program and the DPD as fully accredited after a January 2026 site visit, with directory terms to 2033. Total supervised hours for the 36-credit program were not published. Full UIC profile.
Rush University
Chicago; Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Health Sciences; campus and online.
- M.S. Clinical Nutrition, Dietetic Integrated Track: 48 credits, 20 months, 1,000 or more hours, cohort of 20
- M.S. Clinical Nutrition (online): 30 credits, no supervised practice, no RD eligibility
Both tracks cost $1,046 per credit for 2026-27. ACEND’s April 2026 decisions list Rush’s graduate program as fully accredited after a site visit, and the term end was not found. Full Rush profile.
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood health sciences campus; Department of Applied Health Sciences, Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health; campus-based.
- M.S. in Dietetics with Dietetic Internship Certificate: 37 credits, about 21 months, 1,020 hours, $1,355 per credit
- Dietetic Internship Certificate: 14 credits, 12 months, for applicants who already hold a master’s
ACEND’s March 2026 decisions extended the internship’s term to June 2030. Loyola’s archived catalog lists 46 credits and 1,100 hours, against the current page’s 37 and 1,020. Full Loyola profile.
Dominican University
River Forest; Department of Nutrition Sciences, Borra College of Health Sciences; hybrid and online.
- MBA with Coordinated Program in Dietetics: 48 credits, about 21 months, at least 1,000 hours, one fall start
- M.S. Coordinated Program: closed to new students from June 2026; supervised practice pathway closing by December 31, 2026
- B.S. (DPD), a certificate, and a non-RD M.S. in Nutrition
ACEND placed both programs on a reduced term in July 2024 and continued them after progress reports in July 2025. Dominican publishes exam results for 2022 to 2024. Full Dominican profile.
Benedictine University
Lisle; Department of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Science and Health; campus-based.
- B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD): 120 credits, $39,450 a year, ACEND term to June 2033
- M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics and M.S. Nutrition and Wellness: closed to new students
The Dietetic Internship closed on June 30, 2026, and an optional 4+1 route lets DPD majors start an MPH early. The department page still shows a 2025 accreditation date. Full Benedictine profile.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago; Department of Food Science and Nutrition; campus-based.
- M.S. in Nutrition Science: thesis-based, $1,925 per credit, 30 to 32 credits derived
No ACEND program exists at Illinois Tech, and the school’s pages make no accreditation claim. The department works with FDA scientists on food and health research. Full Illinois Tech profile.
How to Choose a Nutrition Program in Chicago
Which programs carry the credential
UIC’s Coordinated Program and Rush’s integrated track fold the master’s and supervised practice into one admission. Loyola’s master’s and internship need a DPD first and a separate competitive application. Benedictine’s bachelor’s gives a verification statement only.
Starting point
UIC and Rush accept a bachelor’s in any field with prerequisites, and Rush lists nine courses against UIC’s thirteen. Loyola requires a verification statement and has no DPD of its own, so a career changer would complete one at Dominican’s certificate route or another school first.
Cost architecture
UIC bills a base rate plus a $640 nutrition differential per semester, with residents paying about half the non-resident rate. Rush charges $1,046 per credit, Loyola $1,355, and Illinois Tech $1,925, each with a single rate for all students.
Timing
UIC’s deadline is December 15 and Rush’s and Loyola’s priority date is February 1, all through DICAS. Dominican’s MBA route uses a July 1 DICAS date, and Illinois Tech uses university deadlines.
Before applying in Chicago, confirm Dominican’s current admission status and the term dates of UIC’s, Rush’s, and Loyola’s programs with ACEND. For Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, and other Illinois programs, see the Illinois nutrition programs page.