Home › University of Missouri-Columbia › Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,837/yr (30% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (306,000 openings/yr)

ROI 9.9x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #4 of 38 Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services programs Top 25%

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	$565K	$559K	$514K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.0x	9.9x	9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.1x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	52%	47%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	56	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,520

Out-of-state: $137,352 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$79,556

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,530

43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,837 put University of Missouri-Columbia's Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services program 30% above the national median of $31,506 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

At 9.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,500 debt-to-$40,837 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #4 out of 38 programs, University of Missouri-Columbia's Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,837 to $58,530 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Missouri-Columbia accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 23,118 students enrolled in Columbia, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Missouri-Columbia →

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

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Missouri-Columbia

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

How does University of Missouri-Columbia's Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services program score?

This program scores 56/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates.

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 does University of Missouri-Columbia rank so high for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services?

The #4 ranking out of 38 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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