U.S. median for this major: $70,537.
College Scorecard field of study; 52 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 30% 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 $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University Food Science and Technology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania State University'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 | $19,845 | $83,349 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 1.8 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 2.8 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 3.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% 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 ($83,112) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $47,315 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 Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania 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 | Pennsylvania State University | $83,112 | $25,000 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 2 | Delaware Valley University | $70,222 | — | $28,278 | 56% |
1 more Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Plant Sciences$52,329
- Agricultural Business$73,471
- Animal Sciences$49,772
- Agriculture$52,932
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services$69,540
Pennsylvania State University Food Science and Technology questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Food Science and Technology graduates earn?
Food Science and Technology graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $83,112 four years after graduating and $59,722 one year after. The U.S. median for Food Science and Technology graduates across 29 colleges is $70,537.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Food Science and Technology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Food Science and Technology graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $25,000, about 30% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Food Science and Technology in Pennsylvania?
Of 2 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Food Science and Technology graduate earnings, Pennsylvania 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 $70,550 in Pennsylvania 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: “Pennsylvania State University Food Science and Technology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/food-science-and-technology (College Scorecard and BLS data).