2026 Best Value Food Science Technology Schools in California
[Food Science Technology](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for food science technology students.
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2026 Best Value Food Science Technology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food science technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Food Science Technology Schools
California State University Fresno tops our 2026 list of the best value food science technology schools in California. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $45,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in food science technology will find it at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #2. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $17,498 in student loans. Food Science Technology graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $51,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Napa Valley College earned it the #3 place for food science technology. Located in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,908. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,517.
University Of California Davis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value food science technology schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the food science technology program here. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $52,084. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value food science technology schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Students borrow a median of $20,654 to complete the food science technology program here. Food Science Technology graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. Set against $20,654 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University landed the #6 spot for food science technology value this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete the food science technology program here. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $50,947. Set against $21,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Chapman University admits about 65% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
