Food Science and Technologyat California State University-Fresno
Graduates earn $45,796/yr in their first year — about 8.0% below the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $565K; scenarios range from $523K to $570K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Fresno State
Don't let the raw earnings numbers fool you; your real advantage here is location. Fresno State is the academic heart of the nation's most productive agricultural region, the Central Valley. This isn't a theoretical degree—it’s a hands-on program deeply connected to the massive food processing, dairy, and wine industries right in its backyard. Companies like E&J Gallo, Sun-Maid, and countless other major producers actively recruit from this program because graduates understand the entire farm-to-table pipeline. You’ll be positioned for a career in quality assurance, product development, or plant management where you can build a stable, long-term career. To maximize your value, aggressively pursue local internships starting your sophomore year; that real-world experience, combined with your degree, will make you a top candidate for regional 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 Fresno State'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 Fresno State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Fresno State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fresno State, 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 Fresno State
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Food Science and Technology at California State University-Fresno?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Food Science and Technology field.
What makes California State University-Fresno's Food Science and Technology program stand out?
Ranked #5 of 25 programs nationally, California State University-Fresno lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.