Agricultural and Food Products Processing: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 2 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Agricultural and Food Products Processing pays
Career outlook for Agricultural and Food Products Processing graduates
The job market for the occupations Agricultural and Food Products Processing graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | 65,400 | +2.5% | $59,330 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Food science technicians | 20,400 | +4.8% | $49,430 | Associate's degree |
| Agricultural inspectors | 14,700 | +1.5% | $50,990 | Bachelor's degree |
| Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary | 10,700 | +4.1% | $86,350 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Agricultural and Food Products Processing vs similar majors
How Agricultural and Food Products Processing stacks up against the closest fields in Agriculture & Related Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Agricultural and Food Products Processing Agriculture & Related Sciences · this major | Veterinary Medicine | Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | Food Science and Technology | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 75 B | 80 A | 76 B | 72 B |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $71,906 | $120,579 | $84,630 | $69,951 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $76,052 | $100,829 | $55,544 | $53,965 |
| ROI vs cost | +234% | +460% | +343% | +213% |
| Typical debt | $23,250 | $172,552 | $47,703 | $21,089 |
| Colleges offering it | 2 | 28 | 6 | 34 |
Agricultural and Food Products Processing earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Agricultural and Food Products Processing
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | Associate's | $83,856 | $23,250 | +722% | Strong return |
| 2 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | Associate's | $59,956 | — | +331% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.