U.S. median for this major: $70,537.
College Scorecard field of study; 40 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 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 $33,678. College Scorecard.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Food Science and Technology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Tennessee 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville'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 | $10,029 | $42,924 | 1.3 years |
| $30–48k | $12,162 | $52,053 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $18,206 | $77,922 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $23,627 | $101,124 | 3.0 years |
| $110k+ | $25,688 | $109,945 | 3.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($68,114) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $33,596 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $60,249
- Full cost breakdown · all 82 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Plant Sciences$61,587
- Agricultural Business$59,769
- Animal Sciences$49,656
- Soil Sciences$88,563
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Food Science and Technology questions
How much do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Food Science and Technology graduates earn?
Food Science and Technology graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn a median $68,114 four years after graduating and $48,441 one year after. The U.S. median for Food Science and Technology graduates across 29 colleges is $70,537.
How much debt do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Food Science and Technology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Food Science and Technology graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is $20,632, about 30% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.
Where does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville rank for Food Science and Technology in Tennessee?
Of 1 Tennessee colleges reporting Food Science and Technology graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 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 $51,110 in the Knoxville, TN area and $78,850 nationally.
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing The University of Tennessee-Knoxville with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
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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: “The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Food Science and Technology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/food-science-and-technology (College Scorecard and BLS data).