Agricultural and Food Products Processing
A program that prepares individuals to receive, inspect, store, process, and package agricultural products in the form of human food consumables, animal or plant food, or other industrial products. Includes instruction in the nutrient and industrial properties of various agricultural products; logistics and storage procedures; chemical and mechanical processing operations; packaging; safety and health requirements; and related technical and business principles.
- Schools offering
- 21
- Annual completions
- 77
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $65k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to receive, inspect, store, process, and package agricultural products in the form of human food consumables, animal or plant food, or other industrial products. Includes instruction in the nutrient and industrial properties of various agricultural products; logistics and storage procedures; chemical and mechanical processing operations; packaging; safety and health requirements; and related technical and business principles.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | $59k | +2.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Food science technicians | $49k | +4.8% | Associate's degree |
| Agricultural inspectors | $51k | +1.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary | $86k | +4.1% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$65k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$52k
Bachelor's
$79k
Top colleges for Agricultural and Food Products Processing
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 0 | 23 | 23 |
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | Wooster, OH | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus, OH | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia, WA | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Garden City Community College | Garden City, KS | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Angelo State University | San Angelo, TX | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville, NC | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Muskegon Community College | Muskegon, MI | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Washington State University | Pullman, WA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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