Food Science and Technologyat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $51,883/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $622K; scenarios range from $570K to $631K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona’s “learn-by-doing” philosophy is a powerful career accelerator in food science. Your education won't just be theoretical; you'll be in labs, pilot plants, and sensory panels, gaining the exact hands-on skills that Southern California’s massive food and beverage industry demands. The region is a hub for everything from legacy food giants to innovative plant-based startups, and they actively recruit from this program because graduates arrive ready to contribute to product development, quality assurance, or food safety from day one. This direct pipeline to a diverse and thriving local job market is why the career outcomes are so strong. To maximize this advantage, seek out an internship with a local food manufacturer after your sophomore year; that real-world experience will make your resume irresistible to employers upon graduation.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly Pomona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Food Science and Technology
How Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Food Science and Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Food Science and Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Food Science and Technology at Cal Poly Pomona
What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Food Science and Technology at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
At 69/100, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Food Science and Technology program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Pomona one of the best schools for Food Science and Technology?
Among 25 Food Science and Technology programs, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's #1 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.