Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $59,342 at Michigan State University come in 19% above the national median of $49,845 for Food Science and Technology programs.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 9% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $59,342 far exceeding the $25,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #9 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs, Michigan State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $70,225 are relatively flat compared to the $59,342 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.