2026 Best Value Food Science Technology Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Food Science Technology certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 161 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Dakota County Technical College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Based in Rosemount, MN, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $13,474. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,938 ten years after entry. Set against $13,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Dakota County Technical College
A rank of #2 makes Southwest Wisconsin Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Located in Fennimore, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Food Science Technology students take on a median of $12,112 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Southwest Wisconsin Technical College profile
You'll get strong value at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,758. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%. Get the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #4 place in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $21,813. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $73,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison has an acceptance rate of 45%. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
You'll get strong value at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #5 this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $20,031. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $72,097. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 57% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
University Of Kentucky placed #6 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Based in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. University Of Kentucky Food Science Technology students take on a median of $21,250 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,025 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 93% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Western Kentucky University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Bowling Green, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $24,499. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,889 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%. Get the full Western Kentucky University report
Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. More on Wisconsin Lutheran College
Rutgers University New Brunswick offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. More on Rutgers University New Brunswick
Arizona Western College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Arizona Western College report
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College profile
Lake Michigan College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Lake Michigan College profile
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. More on Our Lady Of Holy Cross College
Southern Oregon University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southern Oregon University
The University Of Tennessee placed #15 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Get the full The University Of Tennessee report
Utah State University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Utah State University
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #17 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. See the full North Dakota State University Main Campus profile
Palo Alto College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Palo Alto College profile
Whitworth University Adult Degree Programs placed #19 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Whitworth University Adult Degree Programs report
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #20 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Pennsylvania State University World Campus report
Reedley College
Reedley College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Reedley College
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Middle Tennessee State University profile
University Of California Davis placed #23 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. See the full University Of California Davis profile
Folsom Lake College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Folsom Lake College
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Food Science Technology Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Finger Lakes Community College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Finger Lakes Community College report
Delaware Valley College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Delaware Valley College profile
Kansas State University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Kansas State University
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Purdue University Main Campus
Drexel University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Drexel University
Cuesta College
Cuesta College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Cuesta College
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Cabrillo College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Niagara County Community College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Niagara County Community College profile
Wenatchee Valley College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Wenatchee Valley College
Surry Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read more about Surry Community College
Washington State University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Washington State University profile
Front Range Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. See the full Front Range Community College profile
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
Highland Community College Highland ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. See the full Highland Community College Highland profile
Laramie County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Laramie County Community College report
Mississippi State University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Mississippi State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Yavapai College
Yavapai College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Yavapai College profile
California State University Fresno offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about California State University Fresno
South Mountain Community College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on South Mountain Community College
Hocking College
Hocking College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Hocking College
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Lourdes College
Lourdes College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Lourdes College
Skagit Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Skagit Valley College
Related Food Science Technology Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Food Science Technology Schools (All Levels)
- 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Food Science Technology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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