How much do Food Science and Technology bachelor's degree graduates from Washington State University earn?

The reported median is $68,719 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $14,780.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 3% below the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Food Science and Technology bachelor's degree at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

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 close to similar programs.

$2,154 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 21.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $14,298 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: −1% · Negative 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+$57,190

$8,000Annual price+$25,190

$15,000Current college-wide context−$2,810

$16,000Annual price−$6,810

$24,000Annual price−$38,810

$32,000Annual price−$70,810

$40,000Annual price−$102,810

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+47%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$47,970 → $70,646

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

28Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

38Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

39Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

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

Not 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.

52Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

29Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

24Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,073Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$68,719$29,646 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$14,971

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

02 · BORROWING$14,780

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$68,719

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$157/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$14,971Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,648Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE86.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.5%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.

$47,970Year 1

$68,719Year 4

$70,646Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.7% 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$5,727

Estimated loan payment$157

39borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$68,719 vs. $70,873

$2,154 below 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$94,990 median wageWA estimate · 250 jobs · 19-1012$77,170–$128,890 middle 50% of WA wages+6.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$62,070 median wageWA estimate · 660 jobs · 19-4013$48,740–$79,850 middle 50% of WA wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$82,960 median wageWA estimate · 160 jobs · 25-1041$64,420–$129,010 middle 50% of WA wages+2.9% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSeparating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,160 median wageWA estimate · 1,560 jobs · 51-9012$46,590–$64,630 middle 50% of WA wages-5.7% projected U.S. growth · 5,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFood Batchmakers$42,710 median wageWA estimate · 5,700 jobs · 51-3092$37,720–$47,650 middle 50% of WA wages+6.5% projected U.S. growth · 23,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFarmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$103,240 median wageWA estimate · 140 jobs · 11-9013$82,740–$131,750 middle 50% of WA wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 70,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSoil and Plant Scientists$79,970 median wageWA estimate · 520 jobs · 19-1013$65,650–$103,360 middle 50% of WA wages+6.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$66,200 median wageWA estimate · 1,220 jobs · 45-1011$49,660–$79,810 middle 50% of WA wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent

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