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# Best Food Science Programs in the South (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Agriculture Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-agriculture-colleges-in-the-south/)

Regional list from [Best Food Science Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-food-science-programs/)

This page ranks the 10 Food Science programs in the South by median earnings of Food Science graduates four years after completing. [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/majors/) leads the list at $80,161, followed by [University of Maryland-College Park](/school/university-of-maryland-college-park/majors/) at $73,677 and [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/majors/) at $72,782.

Across the list, reported earnings range from $80,161 to $39,940, with a median of $63,790. For 2 of the 10 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Every program on the list is at a public institution. University of Florida ranks 29th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing in the group.

University of Florida posts the lowest average net price at $6,541, while Appalachian State University reports the highest admission rate at 90%.

## The ranked list

10 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $80,161 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
|  | [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/majors/) reports [$80,161 in median earnings](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/outcomes/) for its Food Science graduates four years after completing, with 25 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 2 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $73,677 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
|  | [University of Maryland-College Park](/school/university-of-maryland-college-park/majors/) [admits 45% of applicants](/school/university-of-maryland-college-park/admissions/) and its Food Science graduates earn a median of $73,677 four years after completing. |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $72,782 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/majors/) with a [median of $20,121](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/outcomes/) in federal loans, while its Food Science completers earn a median of $72,782 four years after completing. |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $68,114 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
|  | [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and posts a [median of $68,114](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/outcomes/) for its Food Science graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $64,078 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
|  | [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/majors/) carries an [average net price of $6,541,](/school/university-of-florida/cost/) and its Food Science graduates earn a median of $64,078 four years after completing. |
| 6 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $63,501 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
|  | [Clemson University](/school/clemson-university/majors/) reports 59 graduates in the earnings cohort for Food Science, with a [median of $63,501](/school/clemson-university/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 7 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $53,369 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
|  | [Appalachian State University](/school/appalachian-state-university/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/appalachian-state-university/admissions/) and its Food Science graduates earn a median of $53,369 four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $49,683 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
|  | [University of Arkansas](/school/university-of-arkansas/majors/) shows a [median of $49,683](/school/university-of-arkansas/outcomes/) for its Food Science graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $18,209. |
| 9 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $42,682 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
|  | Its Food Science graduates earn a [median of $42,682](/school/university-of-georgia/outcomes/) four years after completing, and [University of Georgia](/school/university-of-georgia/majors/) ranks 95th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 10 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $39,940 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
|  | [Mississippi State University](/school/mississippi-state-university/majors/) reports a [median of $39,940](/school/mississippi-state-university/outcomes/) for its Food Science graduates four years after completing, with 31 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Food Science graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the South appear. The figure reflects federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 2 of the 10 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to the lowest-ranked program is $40,221, and the gap between Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and University of Maryland-College Park is $6,484.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Food Science Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-food-science-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   [Best Food Science Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-food-science-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Food Science Programs in the West](/rankings/best-food-science-programs-in-the-west/)
-   Agriculture Colleges in the South for Social Mobility
-   [Best Agriculture Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-agriculture-colleges-in-the-south/)