Best Colleges for Food Science and Technology

Food Science and Technology graduates combine chemistry, biology, and engineering principles to develop safe, nutritious food products for global markets. With only 30 schools offering dedicated programs nationwide, this specialized field offers strong career prospects with average starting salaries of $42,954.

When evaluating programs, students should prioritize hands-on laboratory experience, industry partnerships for internships, and faculty research opportunities in areas like food safety, product development, or packaging technology. Look for programs with modern pilot plant facilities, connections to major food manufacturers, and strong job placement rates. The best programs integrate coursework in microbiology, chemistry, and nutrition while providing practical experience through co-ops with companies like General Mills, Nestlé, or local food processing facilities.

Schools Ranked

$45,876

Avg. Program Earnings

76.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas	$59,045	70.5%	public
2	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$58,673	89.3%	public
3	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$52,733	95.1%	private-nonprofit
4	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$52,107	85.2%	public
5	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$51,106	87.7%	public
6	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas	$49,683	70.0%	public
7	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$49,370	84.8%	public
8	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts	$49,175	83.2%	public
9	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$48,667	66.7%	public
10	Delaware Valley University Doylestown, Pennsylvania	$48,041	52.2%	private-nonprofit
11	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia	$47,846	86.3%	public
12	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$47,260	83.8%	public
13	Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan	$45,221	82.2%	public
14	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$45,127	84.9%	public
15	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$42,682	87.2%	public
16	Iowa State University Ames, Iowa	$42,682	75.5%	public
17	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$42,682	65.8%	public
18	Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon	$41,789	70.6%	public
19	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, Oregon	$41,789	51.2%	public
20	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$39,927	61.6%	public
21	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$39,729	88.6%	public
22	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$39,585	85.1%	public
23	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, Missouri	$38,289	76.2%	public
24	Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina	$37,568	73.1%	public
25	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$36,130	54.8%	public