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Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
44
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,086/yr (-27% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (306,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #22 of 38 Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $693K $676K $602K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.8x 12.5x 11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.7x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 47% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 44 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,976
Out-of-state: $142,656 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,272
-45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,992
12.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,562
167% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $23,086 place Oregon State University below the $31,506 national median for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 12.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,992 debt-to-$23,086 income ratio translates to about 12 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #22 out of 38 programs, Oregon State University's financial outcomes for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $23,086 to $61,562 over five years (167% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Oregon State University

Oregon State University accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 29,557 students enrolled in Corvallis, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University →

Top Career Paths

Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary $77,280/yr
Dietitians and nutritionists $73,850/yr
Food service managers $65,310/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 38 schools offering Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services →

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at Other Schools

Texas Woman's University ($46,399) Framingham State University ($41,932) University of Missouri-Columbia ($40,837) University of Delaware ($39,066) The University of Alabama ($37,836) Texas State University ($36,601) The University of Texas at Austin ($36,312) Montclair State University ($35,808)

Other Majors at Oregon State University

Computer Science ($85,376) Construction Engineering ($80,936) Industrial Engineering ($78,425) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,636) Manufacturing Engineering ($72,154) Chemical Engineering ($71,618) Engineering, Other ($71,549) Civil Engineering ($70,635)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University's Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services earnings lower at Oregon State University?
Lower starting pay at Oregon State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →