Food Science
CIP Code: 1.1001A food science degree prepares graduates for careers in Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary, Food scientists and technologists, Food science technicians. 66 colleges and universities offer this program.
Food Science Salary by College
Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $70,873 four years after graduating (middle half: $54,113–$88,238). Where you study it matters: across 29 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $39,940 to $85,445.
Sort by:
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | 1 yr after | Median debt | Outcome Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | $85,445 | $88,910 | — | — | A+ |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $84,147 | $80,091 | $64,062 | $14,749 | A+ |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $83,112 | $84,526 | $59,722 | $25,000 | A |
| 4 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ | $80,979 | $71,074 | $51,892 | $26,754 | A |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | $80,161 | $72,994 | $56,274 | $26,875 | A |
| 6 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | $78,367 | $81,358 | $62,479 | $23,187 | B |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA | $77,771 | $68,486 | $59,547 | — | B+ |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA | $75,601 | $68,792 | $51,883 | $22,350 | B+ |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $75,466 | $68,669 | $52,240 | $19,500 | A+ |
| 10 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | $75,060 | $80,526 | — | — | A+ |
| 11 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD | $73,677 | $64,660 | $24,341 | $23,015 | A+ |
| 12 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | $72,782 | $78,105 | $50,631 | $18,921 | A |
| 13 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN | $70,705 | $67,538 | $49,303 | $19,887 | A |
| 14 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | $70,571 | $64,215 | $52,084 | $14,666 | A |
| 15 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | $70,537 | $75,274 | $59,889 | $18,750 | A |
| 16 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | $70,380 | $74,208 | $59,342 | $25,000 | A |
| 17 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA | $70,222 | $71,416 | — | — | C+ |
| 18 | Washington State University Pullman, WA | $68,719 | $63,207 | $47,970 | $13,750 | B |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | $68,114 | $74,407 | $48,441 | $20,632 | B+ |
| 20 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | $66,226 | $65,067 | $41,150 | $18,000 | A+ |
| 21 | Iowa State University Ames, IA | $65,943 | $69,364 | $60,351 | $23,530 | B+ |
| 22 | California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA | $64,225 | $58,441 | $45,796 | $16,500 | C+ |
| 23 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | $64,078 | $68,203 | — | — | A+ |
| 25 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | $63,531 | $63,905 | $43,923 | $20,945 | B |
| 24 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | $63,531 | $63,905 | $43,923 | $20,945 | B+ |
| 26 | Clemson University Clemson, SC | $63,501 | $70,413 | $39,600 | $22,500 | A+ |
| 27 | University of Maine Orono, ME | $56,861 | $60,428 | $36,255 | $22,000 | C |
| 28 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC | $53,369 | $57,273 | $38,743 | — | C+ |
| 29 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | $39,940 | $48,460 | — | $23,767 | B |
Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.
What Can You Do With a Food Science Degree?
Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:
Best Colleges for Food Science
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in food science.
Largest Food Science Programs
Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most food science graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.
About Food Science
Food Science is a degree program offered at 66 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 1,581 students graduate with this degree.
Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary, food scientists and technologists, food science technicians.