Home › California State University-Los Angeles › Food Science and Technology

Food Science and Technology at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,806/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (32% exposed)

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

ROI 19.7x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #13 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	$541K	$538K	$500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.8x	19.7x	18.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.2x	7.2x	6.7x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	40%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	59	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,252

Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,806 at California State University-Los Angeles come in 6% above the national median of $49,845 for Food Science and Technology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Food Science and Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Food Science and Technology's typical career paths, with 32% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #13 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs, California State University-Los Angeles falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 21,478 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

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 California State University-Los Angeles

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Food Science and Technology at California State University-Los Angeles?

This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Food Science and Technology programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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