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Food Science and Technology at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,240/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (32% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (130,500 openings/yr)

ROI 15.0x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Food Science and Technology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$674K	$663K	$603K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.2x	15.0x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.3x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	40%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	68	63

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,300

Out-of-state: $123,980 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,496

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$82,237

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Food Science and Technology program produces graduates earning $52,240/yr — within striking distance of the $49,845 national average for this field.

The 15.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 32% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears quickly against $52,240 in annual earnings.

A #2 ranking out of 25 Food Science and Technology programs nationally puts California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $52,240 to $82,237 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Admission to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is competitive, with 30% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 21,521 in San Luis Obispo, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →

Top Career Paths

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr

Food scientists and technologists $85,310/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Food Science and Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Food Science and Technology program score?

This program scores 68/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Food Science and Technology graduates.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →