by our College Data Analytics Team
[Food Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for food science students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 best value for food science in New York. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Food Science graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Early-career food science graduates make about $64,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.