2027 Best Value Food Science Technology Master’s Degree Schools
[Food Science Technology](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value food science technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Food Science Technology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food science technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Food Science Technology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in food science technology in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the food science technology program here. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food science technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $21,792. Food Science Technology graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $82,065 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in food science technology will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $89,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in food science technology will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $21,000. Food Science Technology graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $50,631 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for food science technology. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $20,534 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $59,889. That is a strong return on a $20,534 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #6 among the best values for food science technology. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the food science technology program here. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value food science technology schools. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $25,821. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #8 for value in food science technology this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Maine came in at #9 for value in food science technology this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the food science technology program here. Food Science Technology graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $50,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Texas Tech University came in at #10 for value in food science technology this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Food Science Technology graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University landed the #11 spot for food science technology value this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,844 to complete the food science technology program here. Food Science Technology graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $90,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,844 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Michigan State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value food science technology schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $25,000. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $92,232. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University earned the #13 position for value in food science technology this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $20,945 to complete the food science technology program here. Food Science Technology graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $43,923 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,945 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #14 position for value in food science technology this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $25,195. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $59,547. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Clemson University earned the #15 position for value in food science technology this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Food Science Technology graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $39,600 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University landed the #16 spot for food science technology value this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $15,750. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $64,062. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Chapman University landed the #17 spot for food science technology value this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,984. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $50,947. That is a strong return on a $21,657 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Other Food Science Technology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Food Science Technology rankings across degree levels:
View All Food Science Technology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
