Food Science and Technologyat Ohio State University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $59,889/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $586K; scenarios range from $540K to $593K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Ohio State
Ohio State's strength in food science isn't an accident; it's rooted in its status as a premier land-grant university in the heart of America's food corridor. Your strong earnings potential comes from this direct pipeline into the massive food manufacturing and R&D sector that calls the Midwest home. You won't just learn theory; you’ll be aggressively recruited by giants like Nestlé, Abbott Nutrition, and Smucker's, who have major operations nearby and value the program's hands-on reputation. A degree here positions you for roles in product development, quality assurance, or food safety—stable, essential corporate careers that are less about the farm and more about the lab and production facility. To maximize this advantage, seek out an internship with a major food processor before your senior year; it’s the most reliable path from the classroom to a high-impact job offer.
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 Ohio 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 Ohio State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Ohio State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ohio 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 Ohio State
What does a 65/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Food Science and Technology at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
At 65/100, Ohio State University-Main Campus's Food Science and Technology program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the best schools for Food Science and Technology?
Among 25 Food Science and Technology programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's #4 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.