Bachelor's-3% vs national median831 grads tracked
Food Science and Technology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 13th of 19 bachelor's programs in Food Science and Technology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$46,202
middle 50%: $31,407 – $61,140
Median · 5 years out
$70,487
middle 50%: $56,145 – $89,429
Median · 10 years out
$90,517
middle 50%: $64,527 – $124,866
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Food Science and Technology (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Food Science and Technology majors earn a median $46k in their first year. Earnings climb to $91k after a decade in the field.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.1 yrs
≈ $7,004 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Missouri - Columbia
$76,359 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$76,305 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$74,673 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$74,500 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$72,462 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$71,931 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$66,438 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$62,777 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$62,059 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$50,767 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
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