As more and more Americans seek to maintain healthy lifestyles, there is an increasing need for people educated in Health and Wellness and Nutrition. While there are relatively few online programs in nutrition and dietetics, several schools offer online bachelor programs in health and wellness with minors in nutrition or specific nutrition tracks. Undergraduate degrees in this field allow students to work as health educators or in community health education and communication. Governments (local, state and federal), insurance companies and other businesses are seeking ways to improve health and reduce healthcare costs.
Job opportunities in this field exist in government agencies (public health agencies, community outreach programs), hospitals (patient and employee health education programs), as well as in private business and industry.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that careers in health, wellness and nutrition are growing at a 13% rate between the years 2014-2024 which is faster than average. Also, the BLS cites salary ranges for this profession is a median $43,840 per year. This profession requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and often state certification.
Accreditation
The accreditation of a college or university is important, in that it verifies the schools meets, or exceeds, educational standards as prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education to receive federal financial aid and quality standards. Typically, schools are regionally accredited by one of six regional, independent accrediting body. Those are: The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is another, independent accrediting organization. The HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a qualified gatekeeper for academic standards.
Many healthcare careers require, or prefer, accreditation through specific organizations, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, etc. It’s worth your while to be certain your online program is properly accredited for your career choice.
Tuition Help
There are several options for undergraduates to find financial help in paying for their college education.
Employee Tuition Assistance
As healthcare grows, many employers have developed employee benefits that includes tuition assistance. You may want to check with your supervisor or Human Resource department to see if your employer offers this benefit and how to apply.
Federal Student Aid
Various federal government supported forms of financial aid are available in the form of grants, scholarships and student loans. You can make application for federal assistance on the Department of Education website Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Veterans, Spouses and Dependents
Increasingly, many schools are providing military discounts for active, or retired, military personnel; including discounts for spouses and legal dependents. To see if you might qualify, check with the school’s bursar or treasurer. Often, this information is included in the school’s website.
Using information from U.S. News and World Report, Bureau of Labor Statistics and other higher education sources (i.e., accrediting organizations), Best Medical Degrees has developed a list of ten of the cheapest, online Health and Wellness and Nutrition bachelors degrees offered online through accredited schools.
1. University of Florida
Located in Gainesville, Florida, the University of Florida has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #87 in its National Universities, #11 in its Best Online Bachelors Programs, #14 in Top Public Schools and #18 Most Innovative Schools. Founded in 1873, the university has an enrollment of over 33,000 students. The University of Florida is accredited the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This is a four-year, degree program in Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Science.
Beyond the university’s core requirements, students in this program will study health education professional development, women’s health issues, current trends in minority health issues and community and health education. The last 15 credit hours involve an internship program within Florida; and, the school has a selection of suitable sites outside of the state. You should check with admissions or the program director to see if there is an internship site available where you live.
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $3,875
2. University of Wisconsin System eCampus
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the University of Wisconsin offers a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management. The University of Wisconsin’s online programs are administered through a collaboration of the 14 Wisconsin system campuses. The U.S. News and World Report ranks UW’S online programs at #39 in its Best Undergraduate Online Programs. Wisconsin University dates to 1838 and was designated a land grant university in 1866. Now, offering 13 colleges has an enrollment in excess of 32,000.
This is a unique program in that students take 63 credit hours of study only in the field of health and wellness management with no electives. Designed for students who have at least 60 transferrable credit hours in general education coursework from an accredited school. There are only four prerequisite courses before taking health and wellness courses in introduction to psychology, introduction to biology, introduction to public speaking and composition II.
Length of Program: 63 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $7,619 (Resident); $22,208 (Non Resident)
3. Creighton University
This university in Omaha, Nebraska was established in 1878 by the Jesuits of the Catholic Church. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Creighton University has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as #1 in Midwest Regional Universities and #15 in Top Online Programs for Veterans.
Offering a Bachelor of Arts in Healthy Lifestyle Management degree, students will study courses in introduction to anthropology: social and cultural determinants of health, introductory psychology, foundations of healthy lifestyle management, healthcare, Society and Culture, health psychology, interpersonal communication, healthy eating and whole person health, physical activity and whole person health, heath and wellness coaching, and lifestyle medicine.
Length of Program: 128 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $8,985.50
4. The University of Iowa
The oldest university in Iowa, UI was founded in 1847 in Iowa City, Iowa. Currently, encompassing 1,700 acres and with a student enrollment of over 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students. A public institution, the University of Iowa has been recognized, for the 12th straight year, by The Fiske Guide to Colleges has named the school one of their Best Buys for 2017. UI has also been named #82 in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities ranking. With 11 colleges, the University of Iowa is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
This is a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree available online for those who have accumulated 24 credit hours or more at a university, college or community college; and, who want to complete their bachelors degree. Students may choose from three concentrations for a BLS in health and human studies, organizational studies or global studies. Completion of the BLS in health and human studies will qualify students to pursue careers in the social aspects of healthcare in public health, employee assistance programs and governmental agencies.
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $8,575 (Residents); $27,890 (Non Resident)
5. University of Alabama
Created in 1818, the University of Alabama is the oldest university in the state. Located in Tuscaloosa, the university has 13 academic divisions, has an enrollment in excess of 37,000 students, UA has been ranked #96 nationally by U.S. News and World Report and Forbes ranked it 422 in national universities. This program is ACEN accredited and is a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences with a concentration in food and nutrition.
Beyond the university’s required core courses, this degree includes study in nutritional biochemistry, applied nutrition, introduction to research in food and nutrition, introduction to chemistry and biochemistry, microbiology and anatomy and physiology. The school offers a special scholarship for re-entry students and in the College of Continuing Studies. Completion of this program leads to a statement of verification which will allow you to apply for internships. Once the internship is completed, students may apply for the Registered Dietician exam to become a registered dietician.
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $10,380
6. University of Northern Colorado
Established in 1889 in Greeley, Colorado by the governor of Colorado, the University of Northern Colorado was originally a school for teachers. The school currently has an enrollment of 12,000 students offering 106 undergraduate programs and 120 graduate programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the dietetic program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Besides taking 40 hours of Liberal Arts core courses (which may be waived if student has an associate or bachelor degree), the successful completion of this degree includes studies in nutrition in the life cycle, introduction to foods, medical nutrition intervention, nutrition application in food service and food services management. This Bachelor of Science in Dietetics degree is offered completely online and has been recognized as #179 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Cost of Tuition Per Year: $12,150.00
7. Kansas State University
This is a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Health offered through Kansas State University’s College of Human Ecology and is an online program of Kansas State University Global Campus. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #146 in its National Universities ranking. With a current enrollment of over 20,000 students, KSU was founded in 1863 as the state’s first school of higher education and the Kansas land grant college.
Designed to train nutritionists to educate people in nutrition and health and to work in local heath departments and community wellness programs. A four-year program, beyond KSU’s required core courses, students will study introduction to public health, basic nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrient metabolism, public health nutrition and a variety of courses in genetics, gerontology, etc. This online program offers scholarship opportunities for students in the KSU Global Campus.
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $12,729
8. East Tennessee State University
Located in upper East Tennessee, East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 as the East Tennessee State Normal School with an initial enrollment of 29 and was renamed to ETSU in 1963 and joined the Tennessee Board of Regents in 1972. Today, the university has 11 colleges and an enrollment of over 14,500 students. Ranked in the National University ranking of U.S. News and World Report, ETSU bachelor’s degree in nutrition is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Offered through the Department of Allied Health Sciences, this four-year program has scholarship opportunities available for those enrolled in the Nutrition Program. This degree serves as a solid basis for students who wish to continue to become registered dietetic technician or continue with an advanced graduate degree. Besides studies in general humanities (English, history, socially, etc.), this program requires core coursework in allied health as well as coursework in nutrition (principles of nutrition science, nutrition through the life cycle, food systems administration and experimental food science, etc.).
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $13,050 (Residents); $14,640 (Non Residents)
9. Kaplan University
Opening in 1937 as a tutorial service to advance the education of workers as America was coming out of the Great Depression. A proprietary university, Kaplan University has earned a #137 ranking in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, and offers a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science degree offered online. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
Following 33 credit hours in core requisites, major coursework will include classes in food safety and microbiology, nutritional analysis and assessment, nutrition planning and management, nutrition across the life cycle, nutritional counseling and a capstone project. Kaplan University offers scholarships for its online students as well as a tuition discount for military personnel.
Length of Program: 180 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $16,695
10. Arizona State University
This Tempe, Arizona university has been ranked #1 in U.S. News and World Report’s For Innovation and #62 in among it’s Public Universities ranking. ASU offers a unique Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Nutrition Communication. This degree is designed to train students to communicate nutrition content and health information with respect food. The university was established in 1885 and is considered the largest public university in the United States, based on its enrollment and it’s four campuses and robust online academic programs.
Housed in ASU’s College of Health Solutions, this Bachelor of Science in Nutrition is a four-year program. Beyond the university’s core requirements, this degree has core coursework in nutrition and communication. Study will include topics in applied food principles, introductory nutrition, community nutrition, nutrition and health promotion, nutrition in the life cycle. Communication studies include science writing, online media, history of communication and writing for the professions. Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Length of Program: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Year: $18,750