COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Food Science and Technology bachelor's degree at Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN · 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.
$4,187 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- Not available
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $30,150 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- +26% · 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+$120,600
$10,000Annual price+$80,600
$15,000Current college-wide context+$60,600
$20,000Annual price+$40,600
$30,000Annual price+$600
$40,000Annual price−$39,400
$50,000Annual price−$79,400
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,051Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$75,060$40,009 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$14,600
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWINGNot available
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$75,060
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENTNot available
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$14,600Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,591Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE49.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE83.1%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
Repayment pressure is not available
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$6,255
Estimated loan paymentNot available
15borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$75,060 vs. $70,873
$4,187 above the national median for the same field and credential.
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$69,350 median wageIN estimate · 300 jobs · 19-1012$49,460–$92,060 middle 50% of IN wages+6.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$44,630 median wageIN estimate · 530 jobs · 19-4013$40,410–$51,820 middle 50% of IN wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$74,480 median wageIN estimate · 160 jobs · 25-1041$54,710–$104,940 middle 50% of IN 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$53,990 median wageIN estimate · 1,510 jobs · 51-9012$47,870–$57,910 middle 50% of IN wages-5.7% projected U.S. growth · 5,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFood Batchmakers$39,700 median wageIN estimate · 5,570 jobs · 51-3092$35,700–$47,820 middle 50% of IN wages+6.5% projected U.S. growth · 23,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFarmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$83,100 median wageIN estimate · 90 jobs · 11-9013$65,330–$104,140 middle 50% of IN wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 70,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSoil and Plant Scientists$80,030 median wageIN estimate · 440 jobs · 19-1013$66,790–$112,660 middle 50% of IN wages+6.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$75,460 median wageIN estimate · 220 jobs · 45-1011$60,100–$91,480 middle 50% of IN wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Wholesale Trade
Manufacturing
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Educational Services
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.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
$541 higher earnings · $3,069 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $75,601
- Debt
- $17,498
- Annual net price
- $11,531
University of Wisconsin-Madison
$10,385 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $85,445
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $17,354
Cornell University
$9,087 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $84,147
- Debt
- $15,750
- Annual net price
- $28,690
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
$8,052 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $83,112
- Debt
- $25,000
- Annual net price
- $32,875
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
Not reported observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →