Best Nutrition Schools Near Meridian, MS (2026)

Updated September 1, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Meridian, Mississippi has 2 accredited schools offering nutrition programs. Meridian has a population of about 34,466. Median household income is $34,657 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning nutrition-related role is Dietitian and Nutritionist at a median $63,700 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Nutrition Schools to Meridian

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer nutrition programs near Meridian, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Meridian city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Meridian. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

Sort:
#1

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS 74.2 miles from Meridian
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
61.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,513
Avg net price $17,595/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 108

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS 82.2 miles from Meridian
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
39.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,140
Avg net price $21,708/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 103

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Mississippi

University, MS 145.3 miles from Meridian
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
70.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,994
Avg net price $13,314/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 124

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Alcorn State University

Alcorn State, MS 147.8 miles from Meridian
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,421
Avg net price $13,265/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 32

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Mississippi schools on the Mississippi nutrition page.

Nutrition Wages Near Meridian

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Mississippi, statewide)
Dietitian and Nutritionist$63,700
Dietetic Technician$28,690
Health Education Specialist$51,020
Food Scientist and TechnologistN/A

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Meridian at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population34,466Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$34,657Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+20.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Meridian-Area Cities With Nutrition Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nutrition schools are near Meridian, MS?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering nutrition programs near Meridian. The closest is Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS (74.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Southern Mississippi (82.2 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying nutrition roles in Mississippi?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nutrition-related roles in Mississippi are: Dietitian and Nutritionist ($63,700), Health Education Specialist ($51,020), Dietetic Technician ($28,690). Wages for Meridian workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Laurel instead of Meridian?

Laurel, MS is 54.6 miles from Meridian and has its own set of local nutrition programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Meridian an affordable place to study nutrition?

Meridian’s median household income of $34,657 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Meridian while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Nutrition Programs

Other Programs Available in Meridian

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Meridian:

Data verified: September 1, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Nutrition Schools in Mississippi: Online Programs (2026)