California · Food Science and Technology

Best institutions to study Food Science and Technology in California

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…

Institutions
16
offering CIP 01.10
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
315
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$52,084
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$42,965
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Food Science Technicians
$56,850
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,806953%
2California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,2407586%$20,654
3University of California - Davis
Davis Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,0849786%$14,750
4California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree
$51,8831668%$17,498
5California State University - Fresno
Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,7963957%$16,500

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Food Science Technicians (SOC 19-4013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+6.5%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~1,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$85,310
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active LearningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingScienceActive Listening

What Food Science Technicians earn in California

Jobs in California
3,990
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$56,850
median $54,200
Best-paying metro
$66,920
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

Related careers

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
$59,240 avg · 14,210 jobs
Food Batchmakers
$43,750 avg · 12,560 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$61,320 avg · 10,450 jobs
Food Science Technicians
$56,850 avg · 3,990 jobs
Food Scientists and Technologists
$97,980 avg · 2,210 jobs
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
$122,560 avg · 1,650 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Food Science and Technology programs in California.

Which Food Science and Technology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California State University - Los Angeles tops the list at $52,806. Compare it against completions, 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).

Food Science and Technology in other statesNew YorkKansasIowaOhioPennsylvaniaMassachusettsMichiganVirginia

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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