Food Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Application of science to food production, preservation, and safety.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$78K
salary
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3%
rate
Food Science Overview
Application of science to food production, preservation, and safety.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
70%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
18%
Lifetime Premium
$480K
Female Graduates
55%
Food Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,200
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,200
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$463,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($480,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Food Science Salary Progression
Common Food Science Careers
Food Scientist
Quality Assurance Manager
Product Developer
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Food Science
#1
Cornell
#2
UC Davis
#3
University of Wisconsin
#4
Purdue
#5
Penn State
Related Majors
Food Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Food Science Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for food science programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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