Food Science and Technologyat University of Maryland-College Park
Graduates earn $24,341/yr in their first year — about 51.0% below the national Food Science and Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $710K; scenarios range from $642K to $725K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park
While UMD is a top-tier public university, this specific program's financial outcomes reflect a mismatch between the degree and the regional job market. The Washington D.C. area is a powerhouse for government, tech, and consulting, but it lacks the large-scale food production and R&D hubs found in the Midwest or California. This means you’ll be competing for a smaller pool of local quality assurance, regulatory, or lab tech roles that don't command high starting salaries. To access the more lucrative product development careers at companies like PepsiCo or Kraft Heinz, you’ll likely need to relocate. Many of the higher-paying paths listed also require a graduate degree, which adds time and expense.
Your key action: before committing, use LinkedIn to find recent graduates from this program. See where they *actually* work and what their job titles are five years out.
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 University of Maryland-College Park'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 University of Maryland-College Park stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, 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 University of Maryland-College Park
What does a 46/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Food Science and Technology at University of Maryland-College Park?
At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Food Science and Technology programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Is University of Maryland-College Park a good choice for Food Science and Technology despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of Maryland-College Park's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.