Degree Dividend
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Best colleges for Food Science and Technology in California

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona leads: its Food Science and Technology graduates earn a median $75,601 four years after finishing, against the field's $70,873 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

California Food Science and Technology programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$75,601+$4,728
2California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$75,466+$4,593
3University of California-Davis$70,571-$302

How big is the earnings gap between California Food Science programs?

$5,030 separates the top and bottom of this list — $75,601 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona against $70,571 at University of California-Davis, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do California Food Science graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $4,728 above the $70,873 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which California college is best for Food Science and Technology?
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — its Food Science and Technology bachelor's graduates earn a median $75,601 four years out, the highest of the 3 California programs in the federal file.
What do Food Science and Technology graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $70,571 to $75,601. The field's national median is $70,873.
Is a Food Science and Technology degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Food Science and Technology graduates earn $22,513/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.