Salaries are highly dependent on how skilled one is at negotiation, seniority in the field, your employer, location, and a host of other factors. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a team of freelancers to get their view on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.

From this, we calculated the average salary for Food Science degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
What Can a Food Science Student Expect to Learn?

The field of food science is vital in today’s world. As the world’s population grows, the ability to produce food that is both plentiful, nutritious, and safe becomes increasingly challenging. An individual with a food science degree can be part of meeting this exciting challenge.

A food science degree offers a wealth of career opportunities. Graduates of food science programs may continue their studies at the graduate level. Extended studies can focus on such food-related areas as microbiology, molecular biology, engineering, and chemistry. Others may gain employment with food corporations, taste developers, research foundations, and government agencies. Because the programs emphasize such a broad range of subjects, such as mathematics, nutrition, biotechnology, psychology, economics, marketing, and management, graduates of a food science program have the option of entering a variety of non-food-related industries as well.

No matter what career path is chosen, the completion of food science studies delivers an individual who is well prepared for employment in almost any environment. The interdisciplinary nature of the studies is consistent with the diverse expectations in today’s workplace environment. Some food scientists develop new food products and flavors.
What is Food Science?

Food Science is an integrated body of scientific knowledge. It examines the chemical, physical, structural, nutritional, toxicological, and microbiological properties of food and food-related systems, and on the changes that occur during handling, preparation, and storage.

The Institute of Food Technology Committee on Higher Education defines food science as “ the discipline in which the engineering, biological, and physical sciences are used to study the nature of foods, the causes of deterioration, the principles underlying food processing, and the improvement of foods for the consuming public." In other words, the study of food science comprises a variety of knowledge and skills.

The food science student learns how food is produced, packaged, preserved, and transported. Food production studies can range from analyzing the chemical make-up of processed foods to investigating the factors that influence crop yields. When studying packaging and preservation, students examine the best ways to maintain food quality, extend shelf life, increase its appeal to consumers, and ensure food safety at every stage.

Transportation studies also look at ways of safely and effectively delivering food that maintains quality as it is being moved from its source to the consumer. With the changing global economy and effort to make food production and distribution more efficient and more environmentally responsible, food science provides outstanding opportunities for a wide range of meaningful and lucrative careers. Food science programs examine the economic, political, and social factors that impact the food industry in the U.S. and around the world.

Within the food industry, there is a constant demand for new products and safety protocols, and food scientists have a significant influence in the industry and in the challenge of maintaining a sufficient and safe global food supply.
Online Schools Offering Accredited Food Science Degree Programs

This is just a sample of colleges and universities which offer a Food Science Degree program online:

* Kaplan University
* Stratford Career Institute
* Ashworth College
* Framingham State University
* Central Michigan University
* University of London
* Purdue University
* Florida International
* Grand Canyon University

Top Colleges & Universities Offering Campus-based Food Science Degrees

There are over 50 institutions approved by the Institute of Food Technology to provide food science degrees. Prospective students should review the individual programs offered at each campus or online school, in order to find a program with the appropriate level and concentration of study. Students should consider whether or not they will want to continue on to do graduate work, whether the school has job placement assistance, and whether the school provides opportunities for networking within the food industry, and most importantly, what type of work they would like to do upon completion of their food science studies.

Here's a sample of schools which offer this program in a traditional campus setting:

* Clemson University
* Kansas State University
* University of Wisconsin
* Oregon State University
* Ohio State University
* Louisiana State University
* Cornell University

Famous Food Science Students

There have been some famous Food Scientists that have invented some iconic food items.For example, the Egg McDuffie was invented by Herb Peterson (pictured tithe right, photo credit to John Hayes/AP), a food scientist working for McDonald’s who wanted to create a fast food version of eggs benedict.

Food scientist Robert Baker created Baker’s Chicken Barbeque Sauce. The flavor of the sauce was so popular that president Bill Clinton and his family sought it out specifically when visiting the New York State Fair.

The Starbucks Frappuccino was developed by Doug Berg, a food scientist at Mattson, an independent food development company. Food scientists don’t just focus on flavor, though.

Robert Baker, the creator of the barbeque sauce, also invented the turkey hot dog to provide an option for people who, for health reasons, might not be able to enjoy regular hot dogs.

Food scientists work in every type of environment. They work in corporations, government, education, independent businesses, and non-profit organizations. They may work in relative isolation, conducting scientific research or they may interact with people daily, gathering feedback on products and processes.

Some food scientists conduct their work in an office setting; others conduct their work outdoors among crops or livestock. For any individual’s skills, inclinations, and abilities, there is a food science career that is well suited. The food scientist has the additional satisfaction of knowing that his or her work is having a positive impact on others.

Developing and delivering food that is healthful, abundant, economical, and appealing is a key need in today’s global economy. A food science degree provides the tools to be a part of meeting this need--to enter an exciting field with myriad opportunities and options for profitable and fulfilling employment.