U.S. median for this major: $70,537.
College Scorecard field of study; 48 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 40% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,018. College Scorecard.
ISU Food Science and Technology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Iowa colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Food Science and Technology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses ISU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,582 | $45,714 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $11,506 | $49,706 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $15,463 | $66,800 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $19,605 | $84,694 | 2.9 years |
| $110k+ | $22,496 | $97,183 | 3.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Food Science and Technology graduates 4 years after graduating ($65,943) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,282 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Food Science and Technology graduates
Soil and Plant Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at ISU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ISU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,386
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at ISU
- Plant Sciences$60,997
- Agricultural Business$67,529
- Animal Sciences$51,644
ISU Food Science and Technology questions
How much do ISU Food Science and Technology graduates earn?
Food Science and Technology graduates of Iowa State University earn a median $65,943 four years after graduating and $60,351 one year after. The U.S. median for Food Science and Technology graduates across 29 colleges is $70,537.
How much debt do ISU Food Science and Technology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Food Science and Technology graduates of Iowa State University is $26,254, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.
Where does ISU rank for Food Science and Technology in Iowa?
Of 1 Iowa colleges reporting Food Science and Technology graduate earnings, Iowa State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Food Science and Technology graduates get?
A common career is soil and plant scientists, with a median wage of $65,080 in the Ames, IA area and $78,850 nationally.
Is ISU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing ISU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Iowa State University Food Science and Technology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/iowa-state-university/majors/food-science-and-technology (College Scorecard and BLS data).