2026 Best Value Food Technology & Processing Master’s Degree 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong food technology & processing education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for food technology & processing students.
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2026 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
University Of Georgia earned the #1 spot for value among food technology & processing schools in the United States. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $21,792. Food Technology & Processing graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $82,065 early in their careers. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Students looking for strong value in food technology & processing will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #2. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $24,844 to complete the food technology & processing program here. Food Technology & Processing graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $90,394 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in food technology & processing will find it at University Of Maine, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career food technology & processing graduates make about $50,941. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Other Food Technology & Processing Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Food Technology & Processing rankings across degree levels:
View All Food Technology & Processing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
