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Agriculture · Food Science and Technology Rank #9 of 25

Food Science and Technologyat Michigan State University

Graduates earn $59,342/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $585K; scenarios range from $539K to $591K depending on AI disruption.

East Lansing, MI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
62
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$59,342
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$585K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
36% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Michigan State University

As a premier land-grant university in a major agricultural state, Michigan State offers more than just a degree; it provides direct access to a thriving industry. Your strong earnings potential isn't an accident. It's driven by the program's deep connections to the corporate food giants of the Midwest—think Kellogg's, Gerber, and General Mills—who actively recruit on campus for their R&D and quality assurance roles. You’ll be immersed in a world of food production, from dairy science to fruit processing, reflecting Michigan’s diverse agricultural output. This isn't just theoretical learning; it's hands-on preparation for the real-world challenges of developing, testing, and scaling new food products. To maximize this advantage, seek out an internship with one of these regional food processors before your senior year; it's the most reliable path to a strong full-time offer.

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
$539K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple8.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$585K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple9.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$591K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Michigan 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 Michigan 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
Iowa State University
IA · Public
65
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
14.2x
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
Also at Michigan State University

Other top programs at Michigan State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Michigan 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 Michigan State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Food Science and Technology at Michigan State University?

A score of 62/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Food Science and Technology field.