Home › Oregon State University-Cascades Campus › Food Science and Technology

Food Science and Technology at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,923/yr (-12% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (32% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (130,500 openings/yr)

ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #16 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Food Science and Technology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$564K	$560K	$518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.2x	11.1x	10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	4.0x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	40%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	56	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,376

Out-of-state: $139,776 (4.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,888

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,945

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,467

40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,923/yr, Food Science and Technology graduates from Oregon State University-Cascades Campus land near the $49,845 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Food Science and Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Food Science and Technology's typical career paths, with 32% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $20,945 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #16 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $43,923 to $61,467 over five years — a 40% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus accepts 68% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 1,054 in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →

Top Career Paths

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr

Food scientists and technologists $85,310/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Food Science and Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Food Science and Technology at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?

This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Food Science and Technology programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →