Best colleges for Food Science and Technology
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Food Science and Technology by graduate earnings are Cornell University ($64,062), Kansas State University ($62,479) and Iowa State University ($60,351), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): $64,062, 84 graduates a year
- Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS): $62,479, 83 graduates a year
- Iowa State University (Ames, IA): $60,351, 24 graduates a year
- Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): $59,889, 49 graduates a year
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA): $59,722, 45 graduates a year
Compare 125 U.S. colleges offering Food Science and Technology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 44 states.
Food Science and Technology programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,892 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 01.10 and the Food Science Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Food Science and Technology programs
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 food safety, processing, and technology, preparing them for various roles in the food industry.
Students in this program will develop core skills in active learning, critical thinking, and science, along with knowledge in food production, chemistry, and engineering. Coursework may cover specializations such as Brewing Science, Viticulture and Enology, and Food Technology and Processing.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,062 | 84 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,750 |
| 2 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,479 | 83 | 71% | — | $24,844 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,351 | 24 | 75% | — | $26,254 |
| 4 | Ohio State University Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,889 | 49 | 88% | — | $20,534 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,722 | 45 | 86% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,547 | 41 | 83% | — | — |
| 7 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,342 | 63 | 81% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,274 | 22 | 86% | — | $26,875 |
| 9 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,205 | 32 | 71% | — | $17,750 |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,240 | 75 | 86% | — | $20,654 |
| 11 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,084 | 97 | 86% | — | $14,750 |
| 12 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,892 | 25 | 84% | — | $27,000 |
| 13 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,631 | 42 | 85% | — | $21,000 |
| 14 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,303 | 30 | 85% | — | $21,050 |
| 15 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,441 | 30 | 74% | — | $20,632 |
| 16 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,970 | 24 | 60% | — | $14,780 |
| 17 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,796 | 39 | 57% | — | $16,500 |
| 18 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,923 | 45 | 70% | — | $20,945 |
| 19 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,150 | 113 | 85% | — | $19,000 |
| 20 | Clemson University Clemson, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,600 | 99 | 87% | — | $25,000 |
| 21 | University of Maine Orono, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,255 | 31 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 22 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,341 | 34 | 89% | — | $24,730 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $59,722 | 1 | 34% | — | $25,000 |
| 24 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $52,806 | 9 | 53% | — | — |
| 25 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,883 | 16 | 68% | — | $17,498 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Certificate | $49,123 | 95 | 71% | — | $21,250 |
Specializations within Food Science and Technology
6 of the 6 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 01.10 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Food ScienceCIP 01.10011,565 graduates / yr65 institutions40 states
- Viticulture and EnologyCIP 01.1004239 graduates / yr27 institutions12 states
- Food Science and TechnologyCIP 01.1099126 graduates / yr14 institutions13 states
- Brewing ScienceCIP 01.1003New in CIP 2020113 graduates / yr19 institutions13 states
- Zymology/CIP 01.1005
Fermentation Science New in CIP 2020partial data99 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states - Food Technology and ProcessingCIP 01.100298 graduates / yr20 institutions15 states
Offered across 44 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4013, Food Science Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Food Science and Technology program can expect a career outlook that is faster than average, with an estimated growth rate of 6.5%. There are approximately 1,200 annual openings, and the median wage for professionals in this field is $85,310, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Food Science and Technology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.10.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.10 (Food Science and Technology) maps to 8 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9013 | Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers |
| 19-1012 | Food Scientists and Technologists |
| 19-1013 | Soil and Plant Scientists |
| 19-4013 | Food Science Techniciansprimary |
| 25-1041 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 45-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers |
| 51-3092 | Food Batchmakers |
| 51-9012 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Food Science and Technology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
- Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
Common questions
What is Food Science and Technology?+
It is the study of food, its chemical properties, and the scientific aspects of food safety and processing.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active learning, and science, along with knowledge in food production and chemistry.
What are the career prospects?+
The field has a growth rate of 6.5%, with about 1,200 annual job openings and a median wage of $85,310.
What level of education is required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in Food Science and Technology.
How much do Food Science and Technology graduates earn?+
Food Science and Technology graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,892, College Scorecard (2019); the Food Science Technicians occupation pays about $56,660 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Food Science and Technology?+
Food Science and Technology maps to CIP 01.10 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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