2027 Best Value Food Science Master’s Degree Schools
[Food Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong food science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for food science students.
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2027 Best Value Food Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Food Science Schools
For return on investment in food science, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the food science program here. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #2 place for food science. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Food Science graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career food science graduates make about $82,065. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in food science will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the food science program here. Food Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $89,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food science, landing the #4 spot this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $50,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for food science. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Food Science graduates carry a median of $20,534 in student loans. Early-career food science graduates make about $59,889. That is a strong return on a $20,534 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #6 for value in food science this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $25,821. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. That is a strong return on a $25,821 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value food science schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $26,774. Food Science graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #8 position for value in food science this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $22,386. Early-career food science graduates make about $49,755. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Maine placed #9 among the best values for food science. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $50,941. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Texas Tech University earned the #10 position for value in food science this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $24,271. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Kansas State University earned the #11 position for value in food science this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $24,844. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $90,394. That is a strong return on a $24,844 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Michigan State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value food science schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Food Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career food science graduates make about $92,232. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Oregon State University came in at #13 for value in food science this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $20,945. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $43,923. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #14 spot for food science value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $25,195. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $59,547. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Clemson University placed #15 among the best values for food science. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the food science program here. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $39,600. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Cornell University landed the #16 spot for food science value this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Food Science graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Food Science graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $64,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Chapman University came in at #17 for value in food science this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $21,657. Food Science graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $50,947 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,657 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Other Food Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value food science schools at other degree levels:
View All Food Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
