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2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major

78 Ranked Colleges
1,812 Degrees Awarded
$33,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 1,812 people earned their degree in food science, making the major the 305th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major” ranking looked at 78 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in food science. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in food science.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The food sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major”.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 129 degrees to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 78 schools in the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Michigan State University

3

Out of the 78 schools in the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school awarded 97 degrees to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

4
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Clemson University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major. Clemson is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Clemson University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Davis Food Science Report

6
Cornell crest
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York

Cornell University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. Cornell is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 67 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Cornell University Food Science Report

7
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 63 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at K -State

8

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 50 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at UMN Twin Cities

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at University of Maryland - College Park

10

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #10. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Fresno State

11

Iowa State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Food Science Report

12

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #12. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 47 degrees to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

13
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this large public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Rutgers University - New Brunswick

14

University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 42 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at UMass Amherst

15

With a ranking of #15, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Food Science at Cal Poly Pomona

15

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Food Science Report

17
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #17, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 44 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full NC State Food Science Report

17
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #17, University of Florida did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Food Science at UF

19
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 ’s food sciences degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Mississippi State University Food Science Report

19

Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major list. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 38 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Food Science at Illinois Institute of Technology

19
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #19. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Purdue Food Science Report

19

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified ’s food sciences students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Food Science at Ohio State University - Main Campus

23
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UGA Food Science Report

24
Oregon State crest
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking. Corvallis, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s food sciences degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Oregon State University Food Science Report

25

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Food Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #25. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 30 ’s food sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Food Science Report

Notes and References

References

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