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? We have ranked 161 colleges 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, Course Advisor evaluated 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
Explore the best-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. Based in Fargo, ND, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $25,153. North Dakota State University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $62,203 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants. See the full North Dakota State University Main Campus profile
You'll get strong value at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%. Read the full report 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, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Kansas State University Food Science Technology students take on a median of $24,844 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,262 ten years after entry. Set against $24,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%. Read the full report on Kansas State University
A rank of #4 makes Michigan State University one of the best values in the United States. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Food Science Technology program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,253. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Michigan State University has an acceptance rate of 85%. 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. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Typical Food Science Technology student debt is $27,000. Median earnings reach $48,653 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Maine
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Central Lakes College Brainerd profile
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Niagara County Community College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. See the full Niagara County Community College profile
Miracosta College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Miracosta College
Alabama A And M University placed #12 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Read more about Alabama A And M University
Kentucky State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full Kentucky State University profile
Riverland Community College placed #14 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. See the full Riverland Community College profile
Framingham State University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Framingham State University profile
Chemeketa Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Chemeketa Community College
Western Michigan University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Get the full Western Michigan University report
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Blackhawk Technical College report
University Of Florida ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Get the full University Of Florida report
California State Polytechnic University Pomona offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Surry Community College placed #21 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Surry Community College report
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
North Shore Community College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. See the full North Shore Community College profile
Delaware Valley College placed #24 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. More on Delaware Valley College
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Chattahoochee Technical College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Food Science Technology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of California Davis offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on University Of California Davis
Clovis Community College Fresno ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on Clovis Community College Fresno
Oregon State University placed #28 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. More on Oregon State University
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. More on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Linfield College
Linfield College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Linfield College
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Utah State University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Utah State University
Folsom Lake College landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Folsom Lake College
Grand Valley State University came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Grand Valley State University
Broome Community College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Get the full Broome Community College report
Palo Alto College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Palo Alto College
Eastern Michigan University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read more about Eastern Michigan University
Kent State University At Ashtabula came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. See the full Kent State University At Ashtabula profile
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Maryland Eastern Shore profile
University Of Arizona offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about University Of Arizona
West Hills College Coalinga ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Food Science Technology schools. Read the full report on West Hills College Coalinga
Napa Valley College landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Napa Valley College
Las Positas College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Las Positas College
Bard College At Simons Rock landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Bard College At Simons Rock
California State University Los Angeles landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. More on California State University Los Angeles
Regis University
Regis University placed #46 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. More on Regis University
Saint Josephs University placed #47 among the best-value Food Science Technology schools in the United States. See the full Saint Josephs University profile
Lakeland College
Lakeland College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Lakeland College
Missouri Southern State University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Missouri Southern State University
University Of Puerto Rico Utuado came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Utuado report
Related Food Science Technology Value Rankings
Explore 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
These rankings are produced 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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