Food Science and Technology programs
CIP 0110 · Agriculture & Animal Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
31 institutions report graduate earnings for Food Science and Technology programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $70,537 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30× and 90% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, all 35 programs with a benchmark clear the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026).
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Master's | $111,860 n=29 | 96% 1yr | — | — | Above +63% | — |
| 2 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Master's | $106,264 n=61 | 93% 5yr | $28,404 | 0.27× | Above +69% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Master's | $105,978 n=30 | 100% 5yr | $14,902 | 0.14× | Above +80% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's | $85,445 n=17 | 91% 5yr | $25,788 | 0.30× | Above +119% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Cornell UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $84,147 n=31 | 85% 5yr | $14,749 | 0.17× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $83,112 n=52 | 100% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.30× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $80,979 n=33 | 83% 1yr | $26,754 | 0.33× | Above +103% | — |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $80,161 n=41 | 89% 5yr | $26,875 | 0.34× | Above +111% | — |
| 9 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $78,367 n=48 | 88% 5yr | $23,187 | 0.30× | Above +115% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstMA · Bachelor's | $77,771 n=23 | 95% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.33× | Above +79% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA · Bachelor's | $75,601 n=35 | 90% 5yr | $22,350 | 0.30× | Above +97% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $75,466 n=92 | 95% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.26× | Above +96% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's | $75,060 n=20 | — | $20,000 | 0.27× | Above +100% | — |
| 14 | University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's | $73,677 n=36 | 90% 5yr | $23,015 | 0.31× | Above +75% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Bachelor's | $72,782 n=18 | — | $18,921 | 0.26× | Above +112% | — |
| 16 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $70,705 n=27 | 100% 5yr | $19,887 | 0.28× | Above +77% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $70,571 n=97 | 92% 5yr | $14,666 | 0.21× | Above +84% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $70,537 n=26 | 92% 5yr | $18,750 | 0.27× | Above +92% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $70,380 n=44 | 90% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.35× | Above +101% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Delaware Valley UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $70,222 n=20 | — | $23,620 | 0.34× | Above +86% | — |
| 21 | University of KentuckyKY · UG cert | $69,286 n=16 | — | $20,481 | 0.30× | Above +100% | — |
| 22 | Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $68,719 n=35 | 87% 5yr | $13,750 | 0.20× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN · Bachelor's | $68,114 n=40 | 95% 5yr | $20,632 | 0.30× | Above +95% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | University of MaineME · Master's | $66,858 n=16 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +25% | — |
| 25 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $66,226 n=82 | 89% 5yr | $18,000 | 0.27× | Above +76% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Iowa State UniversityIA · Bachelor's | $65,943 n=48 | 84% 5yr | $23,530 | 0.36× | Above +71% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | California State University-FresnoCA · Bachelor's | $64,225 n=54 | 83% 5yr | $16,500 | 0.26× | Above +67% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $64,078 n=19 | 100% | $20,875 | 0.33× | Above +90% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $63,531 n=35 | 84% 5yr | $20,945 | 0.33× | Above +73% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's | $63,531 n=35 | 84% 5yr | $20,945 | 0.33× | Above +73% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Clemson UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $63,501 n=49 | 83% 5yr | $22,500 | 0.35× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin-StoutWI · Master's | $63,009 n=22 | — | $23,977 | 0.38× | Above +2% | — |
| 33 | University of MaineME · Bachelor's | $56,861 n=32 | 92% 5yr | $22,000 | 0.39× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Appalachian State UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $53,369 n=31 | — | $21,500 | 0.40× | Above +56% | — |
| 35 | Mississippi State UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $39,940 n=23 | 90% 5yr | $23,767 | 0.59× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $73,018 | 4 |
States with at least 3 reporting Food Science and Technology programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Food Science and Technology programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Food Science and Technology programs in this dataset are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($111,860), Michigan State University ($106,264), Kansas State University ($105,978). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Food Science and Technology programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 0 of the 35 Food Science and Technology programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.