Twenty-two Texas schools offer credential-track nutrition and dietetics programs: 21 universities and one community college. Published costs run from $4,440 in total tuition and fees for Tarrant County College’s associate degree to about $54,000 for non-residents in UT Southwestern’s 24-month master’s (derived, with mandatory fees). Integrated graduate RD routes run from 12 months at TCU, for students who already hold a DPD verification statement, to 24 months at UT Southwestern.
Most programs are campus-based. The University of Houston and Abilene Christian pair a fully online master’s with an internship, Texas Tech offers an online master’s alongside its internship, and Stephen F. Austin teaches the first year of its RD master’s online.
Since January 1, 2024, a bachelor’s degree no longer leads to the RDN credential on its own. The Commission on Dietetic Registration now requires a master’s degree, ACEND-accredited coursework, and at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice.
- Six schools combine all three in one accredited program: UT Southwestern, TCU, Texas Woman’s University, UT Austin, UTSA, and UTRGV. UNT Health Fort Worth and Tarleton State have new programs that are not yet fully accredited.
- Eleven pair a master’s degree or graduate credit with their own dietetic internship, which students apply to separately.
- Prairie View A&M runs a DPD and an internship, and Texas Southern offers DPD coursework only.
- Tarrant County College prepares students for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) exam, not the RDN.
Nutrition Programs in Texas — Comparison Table
| School | Credentials | Est. Cost | Format | RD Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | Master of Clinical Nutrition (Coordinated Program): 71 credits, 24 months, 1,200 hrs | $23.6K resident; $54.0K nonresident (derived, tuition and mandatory fees) | Campus | Yes, Coordinated Program; any bachelor’s |
| TCU | B.S. (DPD) Combined B.S./M.S. Dietetics (Coordinated Program) M.S. Nutrition, CP track: 12 or 21 months M.S. Nutrition (DPD verification) |
Graduate track $69.5K at list price for 30 credits; one TCU page claims a 70% scholarship | Campus | Yes, Coordinated Program |
| Texas Woman’s University | B.S. Nutrition, Dietetics (DPD) M.S./DI, Denton: 16 months, 1,100 hrs Graduate Program, Houston: first cohort fall 2027, 1,010 hrs Ph.D. Nutrition |
Denton M.S./DI: ~$17K resident; ~$32K nonresident (program estimate) | Campus | Yes, combined M.S./DI (Denton) after a DPD; new ACEND graduate program (Houston) from fall 2027 |
| UT Austin | B.S. Nutrition (DPD) B.S. + M.S. (Integrated Coordinated Program) Online M.S. (non-RD) |
B.S. ~$47.1K resident (derived); online M.S. $22.5K plus fees | Campus; Online (M.S.) | Yes, Integrated Coordinated Program; UT Austin students only |
| UTSA | B.S. + Master of Dietetic Studies (Coordinated Program): 5 years total, 1,000+ hrs B.S. Nutrition and Health |
Not yet verified | Campus | Yes, Coordinated Program |
| UTRGV | M.S. Dietetics: 47 credits, 4 semesters | Not yet verified | Hybrid | Yes, ACEND Graduate Program; any bachelor’s |
| UNT Health Fort Worth | M.S. Clinical Nutrition (Coordinated Program): 71 credits, 22 months | $35.8K resident; $65.6K nonresident (program estimate, excluding practicum and books) | Online classes; in-person rotations | Candidacy status; first cohort fall 2026 |
| Tarleton State University | B.S. Nutrition, Dietetics (DPD, candidacy) M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics: 34 credits, 17 months |
Not yet verified | Campus or Hybrid (M.S., Fort Worth) | Pending: M.S. awaiting ACEND candidacy |
| Texas A&M University | B.S. Nutrition (DPD) M.C.N. + Dietetic Internship: 36 credits, 21 months |
M.C.N.: $11.2K/yr resident; $21.4K/yr nonresident, tuition + fees | Campus | Yes, combined master’s/DI, 12 a year |
| University of Houston | B.S. Human Nutrition & Foods (DPD subplan) M.S. Nutrition + DI: 30 credits DI only: 27 weeks |
DI fee $8,000, all residencies; M.S. tuition separate (resident $421.76 per credit or a flat $600; UH’s pages differ) | Campus (B.S.); Online (M.S.); onsite or distance DI | Yes, combined M.S./DI, after a DPD; ACEND decision pending |
| Sam Houston State University | B.S. Food Science and Nutrition (DPD) M.S. Dietetics/DI: 36 credits, 17 months |
Not yet verified | Campus | Yes, combined M.S./DI |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | B.S. Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences (DPD) M.S. Nutrition and Integrative Health, RD: 36 credits, about 2 yrs M.S. Nutrition and Integrative Health, Functional Nutrition: 36 credits, online, non-RD |
RD M.S. about $18,279 in tuition and fees for Texas residents (derived) | Hybrid (RD M.S.); Online (functional M.S.) | Yes, M.S. with supervised practice, 10 a year; the functional M.S. is not an RD route |
| Lamar University | B.S. Nutrition, Dietetics (DPD) DI/M.S. Nutrition: 12 months, 1,084 hrs |
Not yet verified | Campus | Yes, combined DI/M.S., up to 10 a year |
| Texas State University | B.S. Nutrition and Foods, Dietetics (DPD) M.S. Human Nutrition/DI: 39 credits, 22 months |
M.S./DI about $22.7K resident, $38.5K non-resident (program estimate, Fall 2025) | Campus | Yes, combined M.S./DI; early decision for its own students |
| Abilene Christian University | B.S. Nutrition (DPD) M.S. Nutrition/DI |
Not yet verified | Online (M.S.); in-person DI | Yes, combined M.S./DI, up to 15 a year |
| Baylor University | B.S. Nutrition Sciences, Pre-Dietetics (DPD) Dietetic Internship + M.S. Nutrition Ph.D. |
Not yet verified | Campus | Yes, internship paired with M.S. |
| Texas Tech University | B.S. Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics (DPD) Dietetic Internship: 1,000+ hrs Online M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics |
Not yet verified | Campus (B.S., DI); Online (M.S.) | Yes, internship plus online M.S. |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | B.S. Human Nutrition (DPD) Dietetic Internship: 1,200 hrs, 18 credits toward M.S. Biology |
Not yet verified | Campus | Yes, internship with graduate credit |
| University of the Incarnate Word | B.S. Nutrition, Dietetics track (DPD) M.S. Nutrition (DPD or internship option) |
Not yet verified | Campus | Partial: confirm internship intake |
| Prairie View A&M University | B.S. Human Nutrition and Food (DPD) Dietetic Internship |
Not yet verified | Campus | Partial: DPD plus internship; master’s pairing unconfirmed |
| Texas Southern University | B.S. Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics (DPD): 120 hrs Verification Statement Only (non-degree) |
B.S. $36.7K to $41.6K resident (derived) | Campus | DPD only |
| Tarrant County College | A.A.S. Nutrition and Dietetics: 60 credits | $4,440 total, in-county | Campus | No; NDTR |
Costs appear only where the program publishes them. UT Southwestern and TWU figures are program totals, Texas A&M’s is 2026–27 tuition and fees for a standard graduate load, and Tarrant County’s is the 2026–27 in-county total before books. TCU, Baylor, Abilene Christian, and the University of the Incarnate Word are private and charge one rate regardless of residency.
Which Texas Nutrition Program Fits You
Choose UT Southwestern if you have a bachelor’s in an unrelated field and want no internship match. Its coordinated master’s accepts any major, starts each August, and includes 1,200 supervised hours over 24 months.
Choose TCU if you already hold a DPD verification statement and want an integrated route in Fort Worth. Its master’s coordinated track takes 12 months with verification, or 21 months when 22 hours of leveling coursework are added.
Choose Texas Woman’s University if you hold a DPD verification statement and want public tuition. Its Denton M.S./Internship runs 16 months for about $17,000 in resident tuition and fees (program estimate), and a new Houston graduate program that takes applicants without a DPD enrolls its first cohort in fall 2027.
Choose UT Austin if you are already enrolled there. Its Integrated Coordinated Program awards a B.S. and M.S. together but admits only current UT Austin students.
Choose UTSA if you are starting college and want one continuous route. Its coordinated program ends with a B.S. and a Master of Dietetic Studies after five years.
Choose UTRGV if you live in the Rio Grande Valley and hold any bachelor’s degree. Its 47-credit graduate program places students at local sites and caps each cohort at 16.
Choose UNT Health Fort Worth or Tarleton State only if you accept accreditation risk. Both are new Fort Worth-area RD master’s programs, and neither holds full ACEND accreditation yet.
Choose Texas A&M if you want a combined master’s and internship with a specialty track. Its 21-month program offers sports, clinical, community, and entrepreneurship tracks.
Choose the University of Houston if you cannot relocate. Its master’s is fully online and open to interns and credentialed dietitians, and its internship runs in Houston or at sites you arrange near home, with preceptor agreements in hand before you apply.
Choose Abilene Christian if you want an online master’s with a residential internship in Abilene or Dallas–Fort Worth. It takes up to 15 interns a year.
Choose Lamar if you hold a DPD verification statement and want to finish fast. Its internship and master’s take 12 months in Southeast Texas.
Choose Stephen F. Austin if you want integrative and functional nutrition. Year one is online, and year two requires living in East Texas for rotations.
Choose Sam Houston State or Texas State for a combined master’s and internship. Sam Houston’s takes 17 months; Texas State’s takes 22 months and gives early decision to its own students and alumni, with two to three DICAS admits a year.
Choose Baylor, Texas Tech, or Texas A&M-Kingsville if you want a DPD and an internship at the same school. Kingsville’s internship applies 18 graduate credits toward an M.S. in Biology.
Choose Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern, or the University of the Incarnate Word for DPD coursework, and plan the graduate step early. Texas Southern has no internship, and UIW paused internship intake for 2025–26.
Choose Tarrant County College for a two-year technician credential. The A.A.S. costs $4,440 in total at the in-county rate and includes at least 450 practicum hours.
Texas Nutrition Schools
Full profiles for these schools are in progress. Each summary below is based on the school’s own program pages as of September 2026.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern’s School of Health Professions in Dallas runs a full-time coordinated master’s on a large medical center campus.
- Master of Clinical Nutrition, Coordinated Program: 24 months, August start, 1,200 supervised hours; about $23,600 resident and $54,000 nonresident in tuition and mandatory fees (derived, 71 credits)
The program is built for bachelor’s holders in any field. Students also complete a research project under a faculty mentor. UT Southwestern’s online M.S. in Nutritional Health is a separate, non-RD degree. Full UT Southwestern profile.
TCU
TCU’s Department of Nutritional Sciences in Fort Worth offers undergraduate and graduate entry into its ACEND Coordinated Program.
- B.S. in Nutrition (DPD)
- Combined B.S./M.S. in Dietetics: students apply as sophomores or juniors and finish with one graduate year
- M.S. in Nutrition, Coordinated track: 12 months with DPD verification (May start) or 21 months without (fall start)
- M.S. in Nutrition with DPD verification
Students without a DPD complete up to 22 hours of didactic coursework in the 21-month path. TCU estimates $1,000 to $1,500 a year in extra costs for travel, supplies, and dues. Graduate tuition is $2,315 per credit, and one TCU page describes a 70% merit scholarship on program coursework that its other pages do not mention. Full TCU profile.
Texas Woman’s University
TWU runs a graduate dietetic internship in Denton and is replacing its older Houston program, in the Texas Medical Center, with a new Future Education Model graduate program.
- B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics (DPD)
- M.S./DI, Denton: 16 months, at least 1,100 supervised hours, medical nutrition therapy emphasis, 16 or 18 interns; about $17,000 resident and $32,000 nonresident (program estimate)
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics, Houston: first cohort fall 2027, at least 1,010 supervised hours, cohort of 20, open to applicants without a DPD who finish prerequisites
- Ph.D. in Nutrition
Both routes lead to an M.S. in Nutrition or an M.S. in Exercise and Sports Nutrition. The older Houston M.S./DI closed to applicants, and its final cohort began in August 2026. Full Texas Woman’s University profile.
UT Austin
UT Austin’s Department of Nutritional Sciences offers a DPD and an Integrated Coordinated Program that UT says became the integrated program in 2022 after running since 1978. ACEND still lists it as a Coordinated Program.
- B.S. in Nutrition (DPD)
- Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics: B.S. in Nutrition and M.S. in Nutritional Sciences completed together, with graduate courses starting senior year
The integrated route is open only to currently registered UT Austin students, and UT’s own B.S. and B.S.A. nutrition graduates are not eligible. Supervised practice covers clinical, community, foodservice, and administration settings. UT’s online M.S. in Nutritional Sciences is not an RD route. Full UT Austin profile.
UTSA
UTSA’s nutrition and dietetics program in San Antonio runs an ACEND Coordinated Program that combines two degrees.
- B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics + Master of Dietetic Studies: four undergraduate years plus a fifth graduate year, with 1,000+ supervised hours across the last three years
- B.S. in Nutrition and Health: not an RD route, with lactation consultation and dietary management certification options
Transfer students enter through a pre-coordinated track. Applicants who already hold a verification statement are assessed case by case.
UTRGV
UTRGV’s College of Health Professions offers an entry-level master’s accredited under ACEND’s Future Education Model graduate standards.
- M.S. in Dietetics: 47 credits over 4 semesters, including 15 credits of supervised experiential learning
Coursework mixes hybrid, online, and face-to-face classes, and rotations are at Rio Grande Valley sites. Graduates of any bachelor’s program can apply with prerequisites. Cohorts are capped at 16 students a year.
UNT Health Fort Worth
UNT Health Fort Worth’s College of Health Professions enrolled the first cohort of its coordinated master’s in fall 2026.
- M.S. in Clinical Nutrition: 71 credits, 22 months, online coursework, supervised rotations with RDNs across North Texas; about $35,800 resident and $65,600 nonresident (program estimate)
ACEND granted the program candidacy status in July 2025, not full accreditation. Confirm its status before applying. Full UNT Health Fort Worth profile.
Tarleton State University
Tarleton, a Texas A&M System school based in Stephenville, is building a dietetics pathway at both degree levels.
- B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics concentration: DPD with ACEND candidacy status
- M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, Fort Worth: 34 credits, 17 months, 1,000 supervised hours, on-campus or hybrid
The master’s admits bachelor’s holders in any field with prerequisites. Tarleton lists its ACEND status as pending, so RD eligibility depends on accreditation.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M’s Department of Nutrition in College Station pairs a non-thesis master’s with its ACEND-accredited internship.
- B.S. in Nutrition (DPD)
- Master of Clinical Nutrition + Dietetic Internship: 36 credits, 21 months; about $11,243 resident and $21,413 nonresident a year in tuition and fees
Students spend one year in College Station coursework, then 9 months in rotations around College Station, Temple, and Houston. The program has 12 spots a year and requires a DPD verification statement. A non-degree internship option also exists.
University of Houston
The University of Houston’s internship program offers onsite and distance options, both combinable with an online master’s.
- B.S. in Human Nutrition & Foods, ACEND track (DPD)
- M.S. in Nutrition + DI: 30-credit online master’s over four terms, with 1,000 supervised hours in the final three
- DI only: 27 weeks, for students with a graduate degree
Onsite interns rotate through more than 50 Houston sites. Distance interns must line up their own preceptors before applying. The $8,000 internship fee is the same for all residencies and is separate from M.S. tuition, and the online M.S. is open only to interns and credentialed dietitians. ACEND lists a September 2026 site visit for both programs, with a decision pending. Full University of Houston profile.
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State in Huntsville offers a DPD and a combined master’s and internship.
- B.S. in Food Science and Nutrition (DPD)
- M.S. in Dietetics/DI: 36 graduate credits, including 9 practicum credits; 17 months; 1,000+ supervised hours
Most rotation sites are within two hours of Huntsville. Applicants need a DPD verification statement, and the GRE is waived at a 3.0 GPA.
Stephen F. Austin State University
SFA in Nacogdoches pairs its DPD with an RD concentration in its integrative health master’s.
- B.S. in Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences (DPD)
- M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health, RD concentration: 36 credits, about 2 years
- M.S. in Nutrition and Integrative Health, Functional Nutrition concentration: 36 credits, online, not an RD route
Year one of the RD master’s is online or hybrid via Zoom. Year two requires 1,000+ supervised hours in the Lufkin–Nacogdoches or Tyler–Longview region, with the student living in Deep East Texas and some placements 70 to 90 miles away at the student’s own cost. The program admits 10 students a year and focuses on integrative and functional medicine nutrition. The school’s $16,000 to $17,000 cost estimate is lower than its own 2026–27 rate tables produce.
Full Stephen F. Austin profile.
Lamar University
Lamar in Beaumont offers a DPD and a combined internship and master’s with a nutrition education and counseling emphasis.
- B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics concentration (DPD): 120 credits
- DI/M.S. in Nutrition: 12 months, at least 1,084 supervised hours in Southeast Texas, 30 graduate credits
The program takes up to 10 interns and offers an internship-only option for master’s holders.
Texas State University
Texas State’s Nutrition and Foods program in San Marcos offers a DPD and a combined master’s and internship.
- B.S. in Nutrition and Foods, Dietetics (DPD)
- M.S. in Human Nutrition/DI: 22 months
Rotations are across Central Texas along the I-35 corridor, with specialty options in pediatrics, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and research, and interns drive 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Texas State dietetics students, M.S. students, and recent alumni apply through early decision by January 1, and the program takes two to three applicants a year through DICAS. Full Texas State profile.
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian, a private Christian university, offers a DPD and a combined master’s and internship.
- B.S. in Nutrition (DPD)
- M.S. in Nutrition/DI: online coursework, residential internship in Abilene or Dallas–Fort Worth
The program takes up to 15 interns across both regions. Applicants need a DPD and a 3.0 GPA, and the GRE is not required.
Baylor University
Baylor, a private Baptist university in Waco, offers nutrition sciences from bachelor’s through Ph.D.
- B.S. in Nutrition Sciences, Pre-Dietetics concentration (DPD)
- Dietetic Internship paired with the M.S. in Nutrition
- Ph.D. in Nutrition Sciences
Students apply to the Pre-Dietetics concentration after 60 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA. Internship applicants apply to both Baylor’s graduate school and its M.S. program.
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech in Lubbock offers a DPD, a full-time internship, and online graduate options.
- B.S. in Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics (DPD), with an accelerated B.S.-to-M.S. option
- Dietetic Internship: at least 1,000 supervised hours
- Online M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics: for DPD graduates, dietetic interns, and RDs
The online M.S. also partners with a distance internship, Keith & Associates, for students who want to train outside Lubbock.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Texas A&M-Kingsville runs the DPD and internship in its Department of Biological and Health Sciences.
- B.S. in Human Nutrition (DPD)
- Dietetic Internship: 1,200 supervised hours; 18 graduate credits apply toward the 36-credit M.S. in Biology
Interns start with two required summer courses on the Kingsville campus. The internship is open to bachelor’s holders with a DPD verification statement.
University of the Incarnate Word
UIW, a private Catholic university in San Antonio, offers a DPD and a nutrition master’s with internship and DPD options.
- B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics track (DPD)
- M.S. in Nutrition: DPD option or separate competitive internship option
The internship places interns in San Antonio and nearby communities. UIW’s department page says the internship did not accept new students for 2025–26, so confirm current intake.
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M, a historically Black university northwest of Houston, lists an ACEND-accredited DPD and dietetic internship in its 2026–27 catalog. How the internship pairs with a master’s degree has not yet been confirmed on the school’s own pages.
Texas Southern University
Texas Southern, a historically Black university in Houston, offers a 120-credit B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics and a verification-only option for bachelor’s holders. Its program page states full accreditation until June 30, 2027, a date not found on ACEND’s pages, whose decisions show a 2020 probation removal and progress-report decisions through 2024. Full Texas Southern profile.
Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College’s Southeast Campus in Arlington offers an ACEND-accredited technician program.
- A.A.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics: 60 credits, at least 450 practicum hours, $4,440 in-county for 2026–27
Graduates can sit for the NDTR exam. Stackable certificates, including Dietary Manager, are earned along the way. ACEND lists a reaccreditation site visit on February 28, 2027. Full Tarrant County College profile.
Parker University
Parker University in Dallas offers online nutrition degrees through its College of Health Sciences, and neither leads to RD eligibility. It has no ACEND program and is not counted among the credential-track schools above.
- M.S. in Functional Nutrition: 30 credits, about 20 months full time, $871 per credit
- B.S. in Nutrition Science: 120 credits, $777 per credit
The M.S. has no supervised practice, thesis, or practicum. Parker’s page describes graduates as eligible to become a “Clinical Nutrition Specialist”; the credential that exists is the Certified Nutrition Specialist, issued by a separate board, which requires 1,000 supervised practice hours that Parker does not provide. Full Parker University profile.
How to Choose a Nutrition Program in Texas
Decide whether you want supervised practice built in.
UT Southwestern, TCU, TWU, UT Austin, UTSA, and UTRGV fold coursework, supervised practice, and the master’s into one program. Most other universities pair a master’s with their own internship, which is a separate, competitive application.
Some routes limit who can enter. UT Austin’s integrated program admits only its own students, and Texas State gives early decision to its own students and alumni.
Match the program to your starting point.
Career changers with an unrelated bachelor’s can apply directly to UT Southwestern, UTRGV, or TCU’s 21-month path. Tarleton’s master’s also admits any major but is not yet accredited.
DPD graduates have the widest choice, including Lamar’s 12-month program, TCU’s 12-month track, and the combined master’s and internship programs at Texas A&M, Sam Houston State, SFA, and Texas State. High school graduates can start in any DPD bachelor’s or in UTSA’s five-year B.S. and M.D.S. route.
Check delivery before relocating.
Houston lets interns complete supervised practice near home with preceptors they arrange. Abilene Christian and Texas Tech offer online master’s degrees, and SFA’s first year is online. Every internship still requires in-person rotations.
Compare published costs.
Few Texas programs publish a program total. UT Southwestern is about $23,600 for residents over two years (derived), TWU Denton about $17,000 (program estimate), and Texas A&M about $11,243 a year in resident tuition and fees.
Houston’s $8,000 internship fee is the same for Texans and non-Texans. Nonresidents at public schools pay more for tuition, sometimes roughly double.
Watch cohort size and deadlines.
Seats are limited: 10 at SFA and Lamar, 12 at Texas A&M, 15 at Abilene Christian, 16 at UTRGV, and 18 at TWU Denton. Texas A&M’s and SFA’s deadlines fall on January 15, and Texas State’s on January 1.
Nutrition Licensure and Credentials in Texas
Texas licenses dietitians through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The law protects the “licensed dietitian” title rather than the practice of nutrition, so the license can matter for employment and reimbursement.
Nutrition and dietetics technicians are not licensed in Texas and work under a licensed dietitian. Graduates planning to practice elsewhere should check the CDR licensure map.
Before You Apply
Texas dietetics programs are changing under the graduate degree requirement. TWU closed its Houston M.S./DI, UTRGV moved to a graduate program, UT Austin converted to an integrated program, and UNT Health and Tarleton are launching new master’s routes.
Before applying, confirm each program’s status in ACEND’s accredited program directory. For local options, compare programs in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.