Three institutions with profiled nutrition programs serve the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area: the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, and North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park. Between them they list 13 credentials. Published or derived prices run from about $15,100 for North Hennepin’s 60-credit transfer degree to about $63,400 to $71,000 in resident tuition for the University of Minnesota’s MPH Coordinated Program, and durations run from 21 months to four years.
Only the University of Minnesota’s MPH Coordinated Program, which ACEND lists as fully accredited to 2033, currently pairs the degree and supervised practice in one admission, and its nutrition department also runs a master’s and an internship. St. Catherine’s master’s holds ACEND candidacy, not full accreditation, and North Hennepin’s degree is a transfer program with no dietetics accreditation.
Nutrition Programs in Minneapolis: Comparison Table
| School | Credentials | Est. Cost | Format | RD Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis | M.P.H. Public Health Nutrition, Coordinated Program: 50 to 56 credits B.S. Nutrition, Dietetics subplan: DPD M.P.S. Dietetics: 30 credits Dietetic Internship: non-degree Four non-RD degrees: M.P.H. traditional, M.S., Ph.D., and other B.S. subplans | MPH CP $63.4K to $71.0K resident (derived); M.P.S. $21,924; internship fee $14,000 | Campus; Hybrid (MPH) | Yes: MPH Coordinated Program, or M.P.S. plus internship |
| St. Catherine University Saint Paul | M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics: 48 credits, ACEND candidate B.S. Applied Science in Nutrition and Dietetics: 3+2 route Two non-RD B.S. degrees | M.S. $36,480 (48 credits at $760); about $37.8K with fees (derived) | Campus | Yes, under candidacy: M.S. only; no accredited bachelor’s |
| North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park | A.S. Nutrition: 60 credits, transfer | $15,122 all-in on campus (derived) | Campus; Hybrid | No: first two years before transfer |
Costs are each profile’s published or derived totals at 2026-27 rates. The University of Minnesota’s MPH range depends on a duration the school does not publish, and its M.S. in Dietetics bills the same flat rate to residents and non-residents. St. Catherine’s undergraduate nutrition majors are offered through its College for Women. Other Minnesota programs are on the Minnesota nutrition programs page.
Which Minneapolis Nutrition Program Fits You
Choose the University of Minnesota if you want an accredited route that includes supervised practice and are comfortable confirming which routes exist for your start year. Its department has proposed a combined two-year program for September 2027, and the final ACEND decision is expected this fall.
Choose St. Catherine if you are a career changer or a current student who accepts candidacy-stage accreditation in return for a 21-month master’s with the practice built in. It requires 125 hours of relevant experience and a February 1 application.
Choose North Hennepin if you want a low-cost start on a nutrition bachelor’s and know your transfer school. It leads to no credential on its own.
Minneapolis Nutrition Schools
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minneapolis and Saint Paul; Department of Food Science and Nutrition and the School of Public Health; campus and hybrid.
- M.P.H. Coordinated Program: 1,000 supervised hours, $1,268 per credit for residents
- M.P.S. in Dietetics: 30 credits, $1,827 per credit for everyone, followed by a 37-week internship at a $14,000 fee
- B.S. DPD subplan, plus research M.S. and Ph.D. programs that are not RD routes
ACEND’s directory shows the DPD and internship to the end of 2027 and the Coordinated Program to 2033, while the internship’s own page says 2019 to 2026. The proposed 2027 program is not yet approved. Full University of Minnesota profile.
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Henrietta Schmoll School of Health; campus-based.
- M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics: 48 credits stated, 21 months, 1,014 hours, fall start
- 3+2 dual-degree B.S. for current students, applying by October 1 of the junior year
St. Catherine’s old Didactic Program closed with a teach-out ending in May 2024, and the school’s own pages still describe a program as accredited in one place. Fall 2027 applications are open. Full St. Catherine profile.
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park; Biological and Health Sciences Pathway; campus and hybrid.
- A.S. in Nutrition: 60 credits, four semesters full-time, $252.04 per credit all-in
Minnesota State Mankato is the only transfer partner the college names, and Mankato’s own accreditation claims differ from ACEND’s directory. Full North Hennepin profile.
How to Choose a Nutrition Program in Minneapolis
Which programs carry the credential
The University of Minnesota’s MPH Coordinated Program and St. Catherine’s master’s fold the degree and supervised practice into one admission. The University of Minnesota’s M.P.S. and internship do the same in two steps, and the internship has its own application.
Status of the program you want
One of the three has a pending decision on a replacement program, one is a candidate with a term ending April 2027, and one has no accreditation at all. Ask each school for its current ACEND status in writing before relying on a web page.
Cost architecture
The University of Minnesota charges $1,827 per credit for the M.P.S. at one rate and $1,268 for residents in the MPH, St. Catherine $760 per credit, and North Hennepin $252.04 per credit all-in with course materials included.
Timing
The University of Minnesota’s internship alone uses a January 15, 2027 deadline and its M.P.S. uses December 1 or March 1. St. Catherine’s deadlines are February 1 and October 1, and North Hennepin is open enrollment.
Before applying in Minneapolis, confirm with ACEND and the department which University of Minnesota routes will exist for your start year and whether St. Catherine has received its accreditation decision. For Minnesota State Mankato, Concordia College, Winona State, and other Minnesota programs, see the Minnesota nutrition programs page.