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Food Science and Technology bachelor's degree outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Name: Food Science and Technology Bachelor's Degree outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

University Park, PA · Public · Federal field 0110

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$12,239 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 30.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $50,280 / year
10-year scenario: +22% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: 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+$201,120

$14,000Annual price+$145,120

$28,000Annual price+$89,120

$33,000Current college-wide context+$69,120

$42,000Annual price+$33,120

$56,000Annual price−$22,880

$70,000Annual price−$78,880

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+24%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$59,722 → $74,291

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

20Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

48Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 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.

80Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

54Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$83,112$47,838 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,875

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$25,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$83,112

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$265/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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,875Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,694Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE60.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE86.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$59,722Year 1

$83,112Year 4

$74,291Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.8% 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$6,926

Estimated loan payment$265

48borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$83,112 vs. $70,873

$12,239 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$83,380 median wagePA estimate · 400 jobs · 19-1012+6.2% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$48,060 median wagePA estimate · 590 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$98,700 median wageU.S. estimate · 60 jobs · 25-1041+2.9% projected U.S. growth · 0.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSeparating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,390 median wagePA estimate · 2,150 jobs · 51-9012-5.7% projected U.S. growth · 5.2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFood Batchmakers$39,920 median wagePA estimate · 8,160 jobs · 51-3092+6.5% projected U.S. growth · 23.1k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFarmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$76,040 median wagePA estimate · 80 jobs · 11-9013-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 70.8k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSoil and Plant Scientists$70,550 median wagePA estimate · 200 jobs · 19-1013+6.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$58,570 median wagePA estimate · 530 jobs · 45-1011+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7.2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent

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