Food Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools to find the best for food science students.
Where you study food science matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Food Science rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Food Science Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 school for food science. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 78 food science degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $64,062. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
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Students looking for a strong food science program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 21 food science degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the food science program make about $59,877 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 food science degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the food science program make about $63,111 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
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Texas Tech University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in food science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 15 food science degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their food science degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
Read more about the food science program at Texas Tech University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in food science, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 27 food science students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Food Science graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,654 to complete this degree.
See the full food science program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Chapman University landed the #6 spot for food science this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 food science students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food science program make about $50,947 in their early career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #7 for food science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 food science students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food science degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $71,315 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
Read more about the food science program at Illinois Institute Of Technology
University Of California Davis ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 70 food science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food science degree from University Of California Davis earn around $52,084 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #9 spot for food science this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 41 food science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $59,547. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in food science from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 113 food science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $65,432. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the food science program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Georgia placed #11 among the best food science schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 35 food science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food science program make about $82,065 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete this degree.
Read more about the food science program at University Of Georgia
Michigan State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 food science students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $75,787. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the food science program at Michigan State University
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 food science degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their food science degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $59,889 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,534.
Get the full food science details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Florida earned the #14 position for food science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 42 food science degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their food science degree from University Of Florida earn around $58,388 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
Read more about the food science program at University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #15 spot for food science this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 42 food science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food science program make about $50,631 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full food science program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #16 for food science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 45 food science students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the food science program make about $59,722 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #17 for food science this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 food science degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the food science program make about $56,274 in their early career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans.
Read more about the food science program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #18 spot for food science this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 16 food science degrees in the most recent data year. Food Science graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $51,883 early in their careers. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $17,498 in student loans.
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University Of Arkansas landed the #19 spot for food science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 food science degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the food science program make about $53,205 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
See the full food science program report for University Of Arkansas
University Of Delaware landed the #20 spot for food science this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 15 food science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their food science degree from University Of Delaware earn around $54,155 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
See the full food science program report for University Of Delaware
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #21 for food science this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 25 food science degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Graduates of the food science program make about $51,892 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in food science from Rutgers University New Brunswick
Washington State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 15 food science degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Food Science graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $47,970 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,780.
More information about a degree in food science from Washington State University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best food science schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 69 food science degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Graduates of the food science program make about $49,755 in their early career. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans.
More information about a degree in food science from University Of Nebraska Lincoln
California State University Fresno placed #24 among the best food science schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 food science students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Food Science graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $45,796 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
More information about a degree in food science from California State University Fresno
Kansas State University came in at #25 for food science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 food science students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Food Science graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $76,437 early in their careers. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $24,844 in student loans.
See the full food science program report for Kansas State University
Rest of the Top 36 Food Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong food science education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.
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).
