2026 Best Value Food Science Technology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Food Science Technology graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 161 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Food Science Technology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is North Dakota State University Main Campus, our #1 best-value Food Science Technology school in the United States. This public school is set in Fargo, ND. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete their Food Science Technology program here. Median earnings reach $62,203 ten years out. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants. Read more about North Dakota State University Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #2 place in the United States. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school based in Lincoln, NE. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. University Of Nebraska Lincoln Food Science Technology students take on a median of $22,386 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,887. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. The median Food Science Technology program debt is $24,844. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,262 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Kansas State University
You'll get strong value at Michigan State University, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $25,000. Median earnings reach $67,253 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Michigan State University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maine one of the best values in the United States. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. University Of Maine Food Science Technology students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,653 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants. See the full University Of Maine profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Our Lady Of Holy Cross College
Normandale Community College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. More on Normandale Community College
Brigham Young University Idaho ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Brigham Young University Idaho
Riverland Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read the full report on Riverland Community College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Appalachian State University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Appalachian State University report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Missouri Southern State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. See the full Missouri Southern State University profile
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #16 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Cabrillo College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Kalamazoo Valley Community College
South Dakota State University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on South Dakota State University
University Of Kentucky ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Get the full University Of Kentucky report
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Skagit Valley College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Skagit Valley College report
University Of Arkansas came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Arkansas
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Middle Tennessee State University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Food Science Technology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
University Of Puerto Rico Utuado offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on University Of Puerto Rico Utuado
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
Lourdes College
Lourdes College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Lourdes College profile
Washington State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Get the full Washington State University report
University Of Florida placed #30 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Florida
Umpqua Community College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Umpqua Community College profile
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez profile
Delaware Valley College landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Delaware Valley College report
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #35 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. More on New Mexico State University Main Campus
Utah State University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Utah State University
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read more about Central Lakes College Brainerd
Wisconsin Lutheran College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Wisconsin Lutheran College
Mount Mary College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mount Mary College report
Niagara County Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Niagara County Community College
Laramie County Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. See the full Laramie County Community College profile
Oregon State University came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. More on Oregon State University
Bucks County Community College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Bucks County Community College
Mississippi State University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read more about Mississippi State University
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Idaho landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Idaho
Yavapai College
Yavapai College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Yavapai College
Auburn University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Auburn University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
The University Of Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full The University Of Tennessee profile
Related Food Science Technology Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Food Science Technology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Food Science Technology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 161 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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