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Agriculture · Food Science and Technology Rank #3 of 25

Food Science and Technologyat Iowa State University

Graduates earn $60,351/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $553K; scenarios range from $512K to $557K depending on AI disruption.

Ames, IA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
65
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$60,351
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$553K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
36% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Iowa State University

Iowa State's strength comes from its deep integration into the American food and agriculture industry. Your education won't be purely theoretical; it's grounded in the real-world challenges of the massive food production hub surrounding Ames. You'll find that companies like Corteva, Cargill, and General Mills don't just visit for a career fair—they are part of the program's ecosystem, funding research and actively recruiting for roles in quality assurance, product development, and supply chain management. This direct pipeline to major employers is why graduates see such strong early-career outcomes. To make the most of this, aggressively pursue internships with these industry partners starting your sophomore year. That hands-on experience is what will truly set your resume apart and turn a good starting salary into a great one.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$512K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$553K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple13.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$557K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple13.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Iowa State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Food Science and Technology graduates typically work

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.

1
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
-1.3% 10-yr growth · 85,500 openings/yr
$87,980/yr
Moderate
2
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
+4.1% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$86,350/yr
High
3
Food scientists and technologists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$85,310/yr
Moderate
4
Soil and plant scientists
+5.4% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$71,410/yr
Moderate
5
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$59,330/yr
Low
6
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
-4.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$49,500/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Food Science and Technology

How Iowa State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Kansas State University
KS · Public
64
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
13.4x
ROI
Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
65
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
12.7x
ROI
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
MA · Public
62
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
9.7x
ROI
Michigan State University
MI · Public
62
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
10.0x
ROI
Also at Iowa State University

Other top programs at Iowa State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Iowa State University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Food Science and Technology at Iowa State University

What does a 65/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Food Science and Technology at Iowa State University?

At 65/100, Iowa State University's Food Science and Technology program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Is Iowa State University one of the best schools for Food Science and Technology?

Among 25 Food Science and Technology programs, Iowa State University's #3 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.