The NCSU one doesn't qualify for FAFSA because if you are a non-degree student you can't take more than 6 hours at a time, and if you are degree student you can't take the certification. Since out of state tuition is almost 6000 dollars for this program, that makes it out of my range. I emailed the school about it and they said it was campus wide policy and also said this:
I also want to point out that this is not a small animal nutrition certification. It is an undergraduate certificate in animal nutrition. There is a companion animal course to take - but it deals with different species, breeds, diseases and of course, nutrition. There are two nutrition courses to choose from at the lower level - ANS 225 or ANS 230, and while ANS 225 would likely have a bit more of a focus on companion animals, they are both designed for general animal nutrition -primarily livestock species. The 400 level comparative nutrition course also covers nutrition for all species.
Also - what you receive is a certificate - but not a certification that grants you something along the lines of being a registered dietician. Of course, there isn't actually anything equivalent to that designation in the animal nutrition world, but if you're looking to consult with owners about feed you'll have a difficult time competing with veterinarians who do the same (this is based on my personal knowledge of the animal nutrition field). I do feel the program is helpful for those who are looking to move into the area and work for a feed company or have a better understanding for their own animals or those they work with.
I just don't want you to come into this with the wrong expectation.
The NTCM one is based in australia and doesn't look very... complete.
If I have to pay for this completely out of pocket, I may go for the first one in my OP. That way I can take the feline nutrition certification first, and if I decide it is hokey, I am only out 300 dollars instead of thousands.
I would be doing this because I want to increase my own knowledge base, not because I plan on going into practice or anything, so I guess I don't really need an official degree, though it would be nice if there was a single accredited program that could be taken online.