U.S. median for this major: $70,537.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 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 29% 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 $26,425. College Scorecard.
NCSU Food Science and Technology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 North Carolina 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 NCSU'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 | $6,382 | $27,060 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $8,758 | $37,134 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $13,334 | $56,536 | 1.4 years |
| $75–110k | $20,087 | $85,169 | 2.2 years |
| $110k+ | $24,652 | $104,524 | 2.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (68% 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 ($72,782) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $39,266 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.
Food Science and Technology at North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina college we cover that reports Food Science and Technology graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $72,782 | $21,000 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 2 | Appalachian State University | $53,369 | — | $16,836 | 75% |
1 more North Carolina college offers Food Science and Technology but has too few graduates to report earnings.
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 NCSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NCSU
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 85% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $68,758
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at NCSU
- Plant Sciences$51,696
- Agricultural Production Operations—
- Agricultural Business$68,671
- Animal Sciences$53,226
- Agriculture$53,969
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services—
NCSU Food Science and Technology questions
How much do NCSU Food Science and Technology graduates earn?
Food Science and Technology graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median $72,782 four years after graduating and $50,631 one year after. The U.S. median for Food Science and Technology graduates across 29 colleges is $70,537.
How much debt do NCSU Food Science and Technology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Food Science and Technology graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh is $21,000, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.
Where does NCSU rank for Food Science and Technology in North Carolina?
Of 2 North Carolina colleges reporting Food Science and Technology graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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 $78,020 in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area and $78,850 nationally.
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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: “North Carolina State University at Raleigh Food Science and Technology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/majors/food-science-and-technology (College Scorecard and BLS data).