Food Science and Technologyat University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Graduates earn $41,150/yr in their first year — about 17.0% below the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $561K; scenarios range from $519K to $565K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UIUC
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.
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 UIUC'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 UIUC stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UIUC
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UIUC, 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 UIUC
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.