by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 20 U.S. colleges awarded 98 degrees and certificates in Food Technology & Processing. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Food Technology & Processing Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,828 one year after completing, rising to $73,551 after four years.
Studying Food Technology & Processing covers Food Technology And Processing. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Chemical, Physical, And Engineering Principles To The Development And Implementation Of Manufacturing, Packaging, Storage, And Distribution Technologies And Processes For Food Products. Includes Instruction In Food Engineering, Food Preservation And Handling, Food Preparation, Food Packaging And Display, Food Storage And Shipment, And Related Equipment And Facilities Design, Operation, And Maintenance.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, food technology & processing is a popular field of study, with 98 degrees awarded annually. 20 colleges award food technology & processing degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 17.
By level, the 98 awards include 17 certificates, 12 associate degrees, 17 bachelor’s degrees, 41 master’s degrees and 11 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of food technology & processing degrees and certificates in the latest year (52 of 98). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (34) and White (31), and international students earned 20.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Food Technology & Processing Schools ranking, including 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks food technology & processing schools within 2 states. In all, 20 colleges offer food technology & processing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Food Technology & Processing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common food technology & processing credential is the master’s degree: 41 of the 98 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to food technology & processing call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Production and Processing, Food Production and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a food technology & processing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 17 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 41 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to food technology & processing, at 51.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.1% |
| Master’s degree | 9.6% |
| Some college courses | 7.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Food Technology & Processing, with an average median salary of $78,414; the strongest outlook belongs to Food Science Technicians, at 7.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Sugarcane Research Technician (Sugarcane Research Tech), Flavor Technician (Flavor Tech), Juice Standardizer and QC Tech (Quality Assurance Technician).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to food technology & processing, at 135,157.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | 76,219 | -4.2% |
Food Technology & Processing graduates earn a median $55,828 one year after completing their program, $73,551 after four years and $68,842 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,828 |
| 4 years | $73,551 |
| 5 years | $68,842 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to food technology & processing, with a median salary of $100,898.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $55,930 |
Food Technology & Processing has 5 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 2,152 degrees a year; the largest are Food Science (1,570), Viticulture and Enology (241) and Food Science and Technology, Other (128). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Food Science | 1,570 |
| Viticulture and Enology | 241 |
| Food Science and Technology, Other | 128 |
| Brewing Science | 113 |
| Zymology/Fermentation Science | 100 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
