Food Science Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Food Science degree analysis for Lexington, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Lexington
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Food Science in Lexington, KY Overview
Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Food Science programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/month. Food Science enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Food Safety and Food Processing. The adjusted starting salary in Lexington is approximately $53,500, growing to $83,460 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,360/yr
Private Tuition
$42,200/yr
Room & Board
$10,700/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,397/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
65%
Food Science Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Food Science salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Food Science ROI Calculator for Lexington
Estimate your return on investment for a Food Science degree using local Lexington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200
Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,050
vs HS diploma in Lexington
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lexington
$421,360
Lifetime earnings premium ($513,600) minus total education cost ($92,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Food Science in Lexington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lexington for Food Science
University of Kentucky
public
$12,360/yr
$49,440 total
Transylvania University
private
$42,200/yr
$168,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Food Science in Lexington
Lexington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Food Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Food Science Job Titles
Food Science in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other STEM Majors in Lexington
Prompt Engineering
$54K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
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$102K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$91K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$94K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$88K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Food Science Degree in Lexington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Food Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lexington.