2027 Best Value Food Science Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Food Science Technology](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for food science technology students.
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2027 Best Value Food Science Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food science technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Food Science Technology Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value food science technology schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $17,669. Food Science Technology graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value food science technology schools. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the food science technology program here. Food Science Technology graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value food science technology 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. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $82,065. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values for food science technology. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $50,631. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi State University earned it the #5 place for food science technology. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $24,475 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $47,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Arkansas landed the #6 spot for food science technology value this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Early-career food science technology graduates make about $53,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Kentucky placed #7 among the best values for food science technology. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Food Science Technology graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value food science technology schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $20,632. Soon after graduation, food science technology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $48,441. That is a strong return on a $20,632 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Clemson University placed #9 among the best values for food science technology. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science technology graduates is $25,000. Food Science Technology graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $39,600 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #10 position for value in food science technology this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Food Science Technology graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. Food Science Technology graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $56,274 early in their careers. Set against $26,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
