2027 Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools
[Food Technology & Processing](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value food technology & processing schools.
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Finding the Best Value Food Technology & Processing School for You
Where you study food technology & processing affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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Customize Your Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food technology & processing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools
Our analysis ranked Hartnell College the best value for a degree in food technology & processing in the United States. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. Students from in state pay about $1,404 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Food Technology & Processing graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Food Technology & Processing graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Rosa Junior College earned it the #2 place for food technology & processing. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $14,692. Soon after graduation, food technology & processing degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
University Of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value food technology & processing schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $21,792. Soon after graduation, food technology & processing degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $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 technology & processing will find it at University Of Maine, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the food technology & processing program here. Food Technology & Processing graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $43,598 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas earned it the #5 place for food technology & processing. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $17,750. Food Technology & Processing graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $53,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Kansas State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value food technology & processing schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Food Technology & Processing graduates carry a median of $24,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food technology & processing degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $76,437. That is a strong return on a $24,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #7 position for value in food technology & processing this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete the food technology & processing program here. Early-career food technology & processing graduates make about $64,891. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
