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Food Science and Technology at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,441/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (32% exposed)

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

ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #7 of 25 Food Science and Technology programs Top 50%

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	$667K	$656K	$598K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.2x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.1x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	40%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	64	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$53,936

Out-of-state: $127,896 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,436

-34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,632

5.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$79,504

64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $48,441/yr, Food Science and Technology graduates from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville land near the $49,845 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.2x 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 — 32% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $20,632 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #7 out of 25 programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Food Science and Technology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $48,441 to $79,504 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville accepts 46% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 28,763 students enrolled in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Food Science and Technology program score?

This program scores 64/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Food Science and Technology graduates.

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