How Much Does It Cost to Publish in Nutrients?

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the official MDPI website, as of mid-2023, the standard article processing charge (APC) to publish in the open-access journal Nutrients is CHF 2900 (Swiss Francs). This fee covers essential publishing services for accepted manuscripts and answers the question of how much does it cost to publish in Nutrients.

Quick Summary

The cost to publish in Nutrients is the article processing charge, set by the publisher MDPI. This fee covers all publishing costs once a manuscript is accepted, though waivers and discounts are sometimes available.

Key Points

Standard Fee: The basic APC for publishing in Nutrients is CHF 2900 (Swiss Francs) for accepted manuscripts.
Open Access Model: The APC funds open-access publication, ensuring the article is freely available to readers.
No Submission Fee: Authors are not charged a fee to submit their manuscript for peer review, only after acceptance.
Cost Coverage: The APC covers peer review administration, production, dissemination, and long-term archiving.
Waivers and Discounts: Reductions are possible through institutional programs, waivers for financial hardship, or reviewer vouchers.
No Surprises: There are no hidden fees for article length or supplementary data, though professional editing is an extra cost.

Understanding the Nutrients Article Processing Charge

The journal Nutrients, published by MDPI, operates on an open-access model, which means all published articles are free for readers to access and reuse. To cover the extensive costs associated with this model, the authors, their institutions, or funders are required to pay a one-time Article Processing Charge (APC) upon acceptance of their manuscript. For papers accepted for publication in Nutrients, the standard APC is CHF 2900. This charge is not a submission fee; there are no fees for articles that are submitted and later rejected.

What the APC Covers

MDPI details the various services covered by the APC for articles in Nutrients and its other journals:

Peer Review Administration and Management: This includes managing the process of peer review, a critical component of academic publishing to ensure the quality and validity of research.
Professional Production: Covers the professional formatting, copyediting, typesetting, and preparation of the article for publication in various formats, such as PDF and XML.
Dissemination of Published Papers: Ensures the article is properly indexed in various academic databases, enhancing its visibility and discoverability by other researchers.
Long-Term Archiving: Guarantees the permanent availability and preservation of the published research. MDPI partners with organizations like the Swiss National Library and CLOCKSS for this purpose.
Minor Language Editing: Includes light copyediting to improve clarity, though authors are encouraged to submit well-prepared manuscripts initially.
Journal Management and Development: Supports the overall management of the journal, including editorial board activities and continuous improvement of the publication process.

How to Minimize Your Publication Costs

While the APC is a significant cost, there are several pathways for authors to potentially reduce or eliminate it. MDPI has established various programs to support researchers who may not have dedicated funding.

Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP): Many universities and research institutions have agreements with MDPI that allow their affiliated authors to receive a discount on APCs. Authors should check with their institution's library or research office to see if they are part of such a program.
Waivers and Discounts: MDPI offers waivers and discounts on a case-by-case basis, particularly for authors from low- and middle-income countries. These waivers are typically based on financial need, and requests are assessed by the Managing Editor before article submission.
Society Membership: Being a member of a scholarly society that is affiliated with Nutrients may also entitle authors to a discount on their APC.
Reviewer Vouchers: Reviewers who provide timely and thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers that can be used for a discount on their next publication in any MDPI journal.

Factors Influencing the Final Cost

The APC is the primary cost, but authors should be aware of other potential expenses. For instance, while MDPI includes minor language editing in the APC, authors with non-native English or complex figures may opt for additional professional editing services before submission. These services, offered by third-party providers or MDPI Author Services, come at an extra cost. Furthermore, taxes like VAT may be added to the final invoice depending on the author's country of residence.

Comparison of Nutrients APC to Other Journals

When considering publication, it is useful to compare Nutrients' APC to those of other reputable open-access journals in the nutrition field. This table provides a snapshot of costs, though specific pricing is subject to change and may vary based on factors like institutional agreements.


Journal Name	Publisher	APC (as of mid-2025)	Key Features	Notes
Nutrients	MDPI	CHF 2900	High visibility, rapid publication, open access	Pricing is standard for accepted papers; waivers available.
Nutrition Journal	BioMed Central (Springer Nature)	~$3190 USD	Open access, reputable publisher	Pricing varies by currency and may be subject to VAT.
Food & Nutrition Research	Co-Action Publishing	EUR 2250	Open access, per-page charges may apply for longer articles	Additional fees apply for articles over 11 pages.
Journal of Nutrients	Conscientia Beam	No APC (2025)	Currently has no APC for submissions in 2025	May have charges for editing; different publisher than MDPI.

Conclusion

The article processing charge for publishing in Nutrients is CHF 2900 for accepted papers, a cost that covers the comprehensive services required for open-access publishing. While this is a substantial investment, authors can explore various options to manage this expense. Investigating institutional memberships, applying for waivers, or utilizing reviewer vouchers can help reduce the financial burden. Compared to other journals in the field, Nutrients' APC is competitive, and the availability of institutional discounts and waivers makes it an accessible option for many researchers globally. It is important for authors to research these options thoroughly before submitting to optimize their publishing strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Nutrients does not charge a submission fee. The Article Processing Charge (APC) of CHF 2900 is only applied to manuscripts that have been peer-reviewed and officially accepted for publication.

The official MDPI website lists the APC in Swiss Francs (CHF). However, payments are also accepted in other major currencies, including US Dollars (USD), Euros (EUR), and British Pound Sterling (GBP).

Yes, MDPI offers waivers and discounts. These are often available for authors from low- and middle-income countries, or for authors whose institutions participate in an MDPI program. Reviewers also receive vouchers for discounts.

You should contact your university or institution's library or research office. They will have information on any institutional agreements that provide discounts on Article Processing Charges for their affiliated researchers.

The APC includes minor English editing as part of the production process. However, authors with more significant language needs may opt for additional, paid professional editing services offered by MDPI Author Services.

The APC covers the operational costs associated with open-access publishing. This includes managing the peer-review process, formatting the article, ensuring its broad dissemination, and long-term digital preservation.

For Nutrients, the APC is a flat rate for accepted papers, regardless of the article's length or the number of figures included. Some items, like editorials, may be published free of charge.