Food Science and Technology graduates from University of Kentucky earn $69,286 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $20,481.
Food Science and Technology at University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky • Certificate
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Food Science and Technology at University of Kentucky
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of Kentucky and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Food Science and Technology at the certificate credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 62 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of Kentucky, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $69,286 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $47,915 across all institutions offering Food Science and Technology, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of Kentucky, the mean median-earnings figure is $65,620, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Food Science and Technology graduates at University of Kentucky is $20,481, which translates to roughly $171 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Food Science and Technology at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky (this school) | $69,286 | $20,481 |
| Dakota County Technical College | $43,326 | — |
| South College | $31,133 | — |
Other Programs at University of Kentucky
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | $185,878 | $249,454 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $135,755 | $139,898 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $126,624 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $119,485 | $53,600 |
| Medicine | $115,241 | $212,674 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $114,151 | $80,472 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $111,868 | $32,146 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $103,270 | $37,969 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $100,533 | — |
| Public Health | $100,253 | $40,014 |
Other Schools with Food Science and Technology
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.