Food Sciences and Technology Schools and Programs in The United States

Food Sciences and Technology Studies in The United States

Food science and technology applies chemistry, microbiology and engineering to the way food is made, preserved, packaged and kept safe. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes food scientists and technologists as people who study the basic elements of food: they analyse its nutritional content, discover new food sources and research ways to make processed foods safe and healthy.

In the United States the subject is usually taught in the agriculture college of a large public university. According to the BLS, every state has at least one land-grant college that offers agricultural science degrees, and many other colleges and universities offer them as well.

How the degree is organised

The standard qualification is a Bachelor of Science with a major in food science. EducationUSA, the US Department of State's advising network, states that the bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study. The first half is mostly basic science. Cornell University, for example, says that the first two years of its food science major establish a background in maths, chemistry and physical and biological sciences, with required courses in chemistry (introductory and organic), biology, microbiology, calculus, physics, introductory food science and nutrition. The last two years apply those sciences to the manufacturing, sensory evaluation, storage, distribution and safety of foods.

Many departments let students specialise. Cornell's major has three concentrations: Science, Business and Safety. Oregon State University lists a Food Science option, an Enology and Viticulture option and a Fermentation Science option in its undergraduate programme.

Other levels exist on both sides of the bachelor's degree:

• Associate degree: a two-year programme, usually at a community college, that leads to a specific vocation or to transfer into a bachelor's programme
• Master's degree: described by EducationUSA as a two-year degree providing additional specialisation
• Doctorate: a five to eight-year research programme, according to EducationUSA

The BLS notes that employers may prefer or require a master's or doctoral degree for scientist positions, and that internships are highly recommended for prospective agricultural and food scientists.

Admission, English and visa

Each university sets its own admission requirements; there is no national application system. EducationUSA states that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission.

International students on a degree programme normally hold an F student visa, which is for study at an accredited US college or university. The institution must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Students who want to lower the cost can follow the "2+2" route described by EducationUSA: two years at a community college followed by two years of university study to complete the bachelor's degree. EducationUSA also points out that no official ranking system exists for US colleges and universities.

Where to study food science in the United States

The 48 schools listed here are spread across the country rather than concentrated in a few cities. Many are public universities in university towns such as Ithaca, Madison, University Park and Corvallis; others are community colleges, where the offer is usually an associate degree or individual courses, so check each school's own site. Examples of universities with a food science department are:

• Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science
• The Pennsylvania State University at University Park, where students earn undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in food science
• The Ohio State University in Columbus, with a Department of Food Science and Technology
• Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a Food Science major
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, which offers a Food Science BS and a Fermented Foods and Beverages Certificate
• Oregon State University in Corvallis, with food science, fermentation science, and enology and viticulture options

Recognition and certification

Food scientists do not generally need a licence: the BLS mentions licensing mainly for those who plan to work in plant and soil sciences. It also states that certifications are generally not required for agricultural and food scientists, although they can be useful for career advancement. What matters for recognition abroad is the accreditation of the institution: EducationUSA explains that recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to an institution's accreditation.

Careers

Graduates work in product development, quality assurance, food safety and research. According to the BLS, food manufacturing is the largest employer of agricultural and food scientists (18 percent of jobs). The median annual wage for food scientists and technologists was $88,720 in May 2025, and employment of agricultural and food scientists as a whole is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Food science technicians, who help scientists with testing and research, typically need an associate degree. Their median annual wage was $52,130 in May 2025, and the BLS projects 5 percent growth for agricultural and food science technicians from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a food science degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study, according to EducationUSA. A master's degree normally adds two years.

Do I need a master's degree to work as a food scientist?

Not always. The BLS says agricultural and food scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree, but employers may prefer or require a master's or doctoral degree.

Can I start food science at a community college?

Yes. Community colleges award two-year associate degrees, and EducationUSA describes a "2+2" route in which two years of community college are followed by two years at a university. Confirm with the university which credits it accepts for its food science major.