Food Science and Technology bachelor's degree at Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.
$13,274 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
18.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$52,868 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
+33% · Positive payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$211,470
$16,000Annual price+$147,470
$29,000Current college-wide context+$95,470
$32,000Annual price+$83,470
$48,000Annual price+$19,470
$64,000Annual price−$44,530
$80,000Annual price−$108,530
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+32%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$64,062 → $84,555Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort27Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median27Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
75Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers42Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count29Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$84,147$49,339 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$28,690
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$15,750
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$84,147
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$167/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$64,062Year 1
$84,147Year 4
$84,555Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
2.4% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$7,012
Estimated loan payment$167
27borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$84,147 vs. $70,873
$13,274 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Food Scientists and Technologists$94,070 median wageNY estimate · 660 jobs · 19-1012$75,790–$113,220 middle 50% of NY wages+6.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$55,470 median wageNY estimate · 580 jobs · 19-4013$50,660–$61,960 middle 50% of NY wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$98,700 median wageU.S. estimate · 8,920 jobs · 25-1041+2.9% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSeparating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,990 median wageNY estimate · 3,490 jobs · 51-9012$47,840–$64,880 middle 50% of NY wages-5.7% projected U.S. growth · 5,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFood Batchmakers$38,470 median wageNY estimate · 8,460 jobs · 51-3092$35,740–$43,690 middle 50% of NY wages+6.5% projected U.S. growth · 23,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFarmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$89,370 median wageNY estimate · 130 jobs · 11-9013$57,130–$128,480 middle 50% of NY wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 70,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSoil and Plant Scientists$77,800 median wageNY estimate · 260 jobs · 19-1013$63,560–$104,910 middle 50% of NY wages+6.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$66,460 median wageNY estimate · 520 jobs · 45-1011$59,940–$74,640 middle 50% of NY wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin-Madison
$1,298 higher earnings · $11,336 lower annual net price