Best colleges for Food Science and Technology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, University of California-Davis and California State University - Fresno are the top bachelor's Food Science and Technology programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,240, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and California State University - Fresno award the most Food Science and Technology degrees in California: 97, 75 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 California colleges offer Food Science and Technology and award 315 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Food Science and Technology program focuses on the study of food and its chemical properties, blending elements of agricultural science and nutritional science. This program is ideal for students interested in the scientific aspects of…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,240 | 75 | 86% | — | $20,654 |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,084 | 97 | 86% | — | $14,750 |
| 3 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,796 | 39 | 57% | — | $16,500 |
| 4 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $52,806 | 9 | 53% | — | — |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,883 | 16 | 68% | — | $17,498 |
Colleges awarding the most Food Science and Technology degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 97 | $52,084 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 75 | $52,240 |
| 3 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 39 | $45,796 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 5 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 16 | $51,883 |
| 7 | Hartnell College Salinas Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 9 | $52,806 |
| 9 | Las Positas College Livermore Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Napa Valley College Napa Public | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 California colleges offering Food Science and Technology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | 7 |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | Public | 4 |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | Public | 4 |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | Public | 3 |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Public | 3 |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Food Science Technicians (SOC 19-4013).
Top skills
What Food Science Technicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Food Science and Technology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Food Science and Technology degrees?+
University of California-Davis (97 graduates a year), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (75 graduates a year) and California State University - Fresno (39 graduates a year) award the most Food Science and Technology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 California colleges offer Food Science and Technology.
What is the best college for Food Science and Technology in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Food Science and Technology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,240, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis and California State University - Fresno follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Davis is the largest, with 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Food Science and Technology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $52,240. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Food Science Technicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Food Science Technicians in California is $56,850 (median $54,200), across about 3,990 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Food Science and Technology program?+
The Food Science and Technology program focuses on the study of food and its chemical properties, blending elements of agricultural science and nutritional science. This program is ideal for students interested in the scientific aspects of…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active learning, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Food Science Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +6.5% growth with around 1,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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