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Food Science and Technology at University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $53,205/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (32% exposed)

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

ROI 13.8x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 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	$543K	$540K	$501K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.9x	13.8x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.7x	4.4x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	40%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	56	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,992

Out-of-state: $115,088 (4.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,100

-80% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,746

3.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $53,205 at University of Arkansas come in 7% above the national median of $49,845 for Food Science and Technology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.8x 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.

With first-year pay of $53,205 far exceeding the $14,746 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #15 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs, University of Arkansas falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 27,312 in Fayetteville, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arkansas →

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 University of Arkansas

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Food Science and Technology at University of Arkansas?

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 →