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2026 Best Value Food Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in food science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Food Science Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in food science in the United States. 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, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $17,669. Food Science graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for food science. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Food Science graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in food science will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Food Science graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career food science graduates make about $82,065. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in food science will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $19,000. Food Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $89,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of California Davis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value food science schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $14,750. Early-career food science graduates make about $52,084. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
ADBLOCK #101
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #6 spot for food science value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, food science 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. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #7 position for value in food science this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $25,821. Food Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kansas State University placed #8 among the best values for food science. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $24,844. Early-career food science graduates make about $90,394. That is a strong return on a $24,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in food science this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $20,534. Early-career food science graduates make about $59,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Maine placed #10 among the best values for food science. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Food Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $50,941. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #11 for value in food science this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Food Science graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Food Science graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #12 among the best values for food science. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $21,818. Early-career food science graduates make about $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Oregon State University placed #13 among the best values for food science. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $20,945. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $43,923. That is a strong return on a $20,945 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas Tech University earned the #14 position for value in food science this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Food Science graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Michigan State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value food science schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $25,000. Early-career food science graduates make about $92,232. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University placed #16 among the best values for food science. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the food science program here. Food Science 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. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #17 spot for food science value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Food Science graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Food Science graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $59,547 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Auburn University came in at #18 for value in food science this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for food science graduates is $22,803. Early-career food science graduates make about $55,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University landed the #19 spot for food science 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. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the food science program here. Early-career food science graduates make about $64,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Chapman University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value food science schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Students from in state pay about $64,984 in tuition and fees. Food Science graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans. Soon after graduation, food science degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $50,947. Set against $21,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Chapman University admits about 65% of applicants.
Other Food Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value food science schools at other degree levels:
[Food Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-science/) 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.
