College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Colleges for Food Science (Income $0-$30k)

40 Ranked Colleges
1,812 Degrees Awarded
$8,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Food Science is the 305th most popular major in the country with 1,812 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 40 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in food science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent food science programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the food science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Food Sciences Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Food Science (Income $0-$30k)

1
Cornell crest
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornell University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 67 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

Cornell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Cornell University is $5,244 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Cornell University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Food Science Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $3,981 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Food Science at University of Wisconsin - Madison

3
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 108 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $6,927 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Food Science at Michigan State University

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 38 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,995 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Purdue

5
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $65 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Florida.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Food Science at University of Florida

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 129 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

7

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State also made our “Best Food Science Schools” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $3,859 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Fresno State

8

University of California - Davis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. It costs about $10,006 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC Davis.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UC Davis Food Science Report

9
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #9, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. It costs about $7,283 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NC State.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full North Carolina State University Food Science Report

10

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 50 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #12 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,698 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

11
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

With a ranking of #11, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 37 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

UGA also made our “Best Food Science Schools” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $8,303 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UGA Food Science Report

12

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 38 degrees to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also made our “Best Food Science Schools” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $7,068 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Food Science at Ohio State

13

Iowa State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 48 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $9,766 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Iowa State

14

Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend BYU is $9,445 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Food Science at BYU

15

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMCP, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMCP is $6,067 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Food Science at University of Maryland - College Park

16
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wazzu, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wazzu is $7,689 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Washington State University

17

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 97 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. It costs about $11,672 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Food Science at UNL

18

With a ranking of #18, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 47 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $12,173 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Food Science Report

19

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,609 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

20

Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $2,073 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Brigham Young University - Idaho

21

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 9 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Food Science Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - College Station is $11,220 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Texas A&M University - College Station

22

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

UT Knoxville also took the #25 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,433 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Knoxville.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Food Science at UT Knoxville

23
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Virginia Tech is a large school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 25 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech also made our “Best Food Science Schools” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,934 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Tech Food Science Report

24
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

With a ranking of #24, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 63 degrees to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

K -State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,436 for Food Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kansas State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full K -State Food Science Report

25
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Food Sciences Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and it awarded 44 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Rutgers New Brunswick has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Food Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rutgers New Brunswick is $14,935 for food sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Food Science at Rutgers New Brunswick

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options