Earn a Dietetics Bachelor's Degree or Take the Didactic Dietetic Coursework Only

Admission Requirements

Dietetics BS Applicants

• You must meet the UNC undergraduate admission requirements for the academic year for which you are applying. See the current admission requirements in the UNC Catalog.

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, including courses to be transferred and those completed at UNC.

• Junior status (≥ 60 semester credit hours) or higher by time of program start.

DPD-Only (Certificate) Applicants

• Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.

• Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, including courses to be transferred and those completed at UNC.

Prerequisites For All Applicants

Complete the following courses with grades of C or higher prior to the start of the program (C- is not acceptable):

• BIO 110 Principles of Biology (4) – with lab
• BIO 245 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab (4) – includes a lab; if split into I and II students should take both I and II to have all body systems
• CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I (4) and CHEM 111L Principles of Chemistry I Lab (1)
• CHEM 231 Principles of Organic Chemistry (3) – recommended
• FND 210 Medical Terminology (2)
• FND 250 Principles of Nutrition (3)
• PSY 120 Principles of Psychology (3)
• STAT 150 Introduction to Statistical Analysis (3)

In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major, minor, or licensure requirements. Any exception to this policy is at discretion of the academic program.

Eligibility by State

At this time, the University of Northern Colorado can provide postsecondary distance education in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all major U.S. territories. We are continuing to monitor requirements in all U.S. jurisdictions and seek clarification from government agencies when needed. If you have questions about whether UNC can offer distance education where you are located, please contact us and we will gladly assist you.

Certain distance education activities that occur outside of Colorado may have additional state approval processes or requirements. This most commonly occurs for experiential learning placement activities such as practica, internships, student teaching, and healthcare clinicals. Please review the State Authorization (SARA) page for additional information on UNC’s ability to offer distance education across state lines and a list of activities and states where approval may be required. For additional information or questions, please contact jake.henderson@unco.edu.

International Student Eligibility

International students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply to our online programs. Applicants for online programs must demonstrate English proficiency, or enroll in the UNC Intensive English Program, in order to be considered.

Students in completely online UNC programs are not required to come to the United States. You will not need a student visa or receive any immigration documentation, and do not need to provide financial documentation.

Please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page for details about English proficiency requirements and applying as an international student.

Transferring Credit

Students are considered transfer students if they have completed any college-level coursework after completing high school. As part of your UNC application, you will need to submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.

Please visit the Transfer of Credits pages on the UNC Office of the Registrar website for information about:

• How many credits can transfer
• Requirements of credits transferred, such as your earned grade and institutional accreditation
• The transfer evaluation process
• Transferology – this service allows you to view our published course equivalencies for your previous courses. This can be done for free before you apply to UNC.
• For those students who have taken or are taking supporting courses at a Colorado public two-year institution, see the Transfer Articulation Guides.

Tuition

This is an Extended Campus program, which means:

• We charge a flat per-credit tuition rate for all students (in-state or out-of-state).
• There are no added student fees or technology fees. However, certain courses may carry specific course fees to support additional services and materials.

Program tuition for the 2025-26 academic year (which runs Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) is $528 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be determined mid-June 2026.

Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC's official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.

Federal Financial Aid

Bachelor of Science Students

Degree-seeking students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC FAFSA/financial aid page for current undergraduate students has key dates and support, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).

Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted throughout the school year but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid. If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.

Bachelor's students must be enrolled in in a minimum of 6 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 12 credits per term.

To apply for federal financial aid assistance

Fill out the FAFSA form at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa 

Coordination of Financial Aid

If you are admitted to this program while completing an associate degree at a community college, please note that you will continue to file for your federal financial aid through that institution until you complete that program. If you are admitted to this program and only taking additional individual coursework at other institutions, you will coordinate your federal financial aid through UNC. Restrictions may apply. See consortium information.

DPD Certificate-Only Students

Certificate program students (non-degree seeking) are not eligible for aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your program coordinator may be aware of your eligibility for any discipline or campus-based aid if available.

All Students

For more specific help, contact the Office of Financial Aid: ofa@unco.edu, 970-351-4862 or via the UNC Financial Aid website.

Students can also find helpful information such as the Guide to Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.gov/resources. Most of the resources are available in English, Spanish and Braille.

Student Health Insurance (for BS Students)

The University of Northern Colorado offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to all degree-seeking students who enroll in courses on our main UNC Campus, an Extended Campus Center, or Online.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours will automatically receive this benefit each term. SHIP premiums will appear on your semester bill. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you must opt out of this plan each Fall via an online waiver process.

Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information about the insurance plan.