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Food Science and Technology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,150/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (32% exposed)

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

ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #20 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	$565K	$561K	$519K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.8x	8.8x	8.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.1x	3.8x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	40%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	51	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,016

Out-of-state: $138,004 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,804

5% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,000

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$60,678

47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,150 place University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign below the $49,845 national median for Food Science and Technology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 32% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $41,150 far exceeding the $18,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #20 out of 25 programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's financial outcomes for Food Science and Technology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,150 to $60,678 shows 47% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A 44% admission rate makes University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 34,623 students in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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

How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Food Science and Technology program score?

A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign trails the majority of Food Science and Technology programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

Why are Food Science and Technology earnings lower at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Lower starting pay at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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