Tennessee · Food Science and Technology

Best colleges for Food Science and Technology in Tennessee

Ranked by graduate earnings

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University and East Tennessee State University award the most Food Science and Technology degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 30, 5 and 4 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 3 Tennessee colleges offer Food Science and Technology and award 39 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…

Institutions
3
offering CIP 01.10
States offered
44
with a program page
Degrees / yr
39
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$48,441
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
60%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Food Scientists and Technologists
$84,820
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,4413074%—$20,632

Colleges awarding the most Food Science and Technology degrees in Tennessee

Top 3 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville Public
30$48,441
2Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro Public
5Not reported
3East Tennessee State University
Johnson City Public
4Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Food Scientists and Technologists (SOC 19-1012).

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 Scientists and Technologists earn in Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
70
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$84,820
median $81,760
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Food Batchmakers
$43,940 avg · 2,920 jobs
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
$50,000 avg · 2,450 jobs
Soil and Plant Scientists
$72,540 avg · 370 jobs
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$120,960 avg · 350 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$55,970 avg · 170 jobs
Food Scientists and Technologists
$84,820 avg · 70 jobs

Common questions

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

Which Tennessee colleges award the most Food Science and Technology degrees?+

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (30 graduates a year), Middle Tennessee State University (5 graduates a year) and East Tennessee State University (4 graduates a year) award the most Food Science and Technology degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 3 Tennessee colleges offer Food Science and Technology.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville tops the list at $48,441. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Food Scientists and Technologists earn in Tennessee?+

The average annual wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee is $84,820 (median $81,760), across about 70 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 Scientists and Technologists?+

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.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card