ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools

1 Colleges in the United States
$22,847 Avg Student Debt
$58,208 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Food Technology & Processing Badge [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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value food technology & processing schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 01.10), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Culinary & Pastry)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Culinary & Pastry)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

Finding the Best Value Food Technology & Processing School for You

The food technology & processing program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.

See how we build our rankings

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Food Technology & Processing Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.

Associate's Degrees in Food Technology & Processing
Bachelor's Degrees in Food Technology & Processing
Master's Degrees in Food Technology & Processing
Doctorate Degrees in Food Technology & Processing

Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.

Learn more about our methodology

DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 01.10), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Culinary & Pastry)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Culinary & Pastry)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
ADBLOCK #171

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

1

For return on investment in food technology & processing, no school beat University Of Georgia 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. Food Technology & Processing graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career food technology & processing graduates make about $82,065. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.

2
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas earned it the #2 place for food technology & processing. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, food technology & processing degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $53,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.

3

Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food technology & processing, landing the #3 spot this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $24,844. Food Technology & Processing graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $76,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.

4

Students looking for strong value in food technology & processing will find it at University Of Maine, which ranked #4. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Typical student debt for food technology & processing graduates is $27,000. Early-career food technology & processing graduates make about $43,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.

DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/food-technology-and-processing/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 01.10), keeping min_relevance at 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

ADBLOCK #173
View All Rankings >

Food Technology & Processing is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 29 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options