Food Science · California

Food Science colleges in California

CampusPin lists 175 U.S. colleges in California that offer Food Science programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Food science applies chemistry, biology, and physics to how food is processed, preserved, and kept safe, suiting students who like lab work and want food to be their subject.

Schools in California that offer Food Science

Food Science programs in California: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 175 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

175

Public / private

22 / 28

Universities / 2-year

39 / 11

Cities represented

37

In-state tuition range

$1,124–$56,724

Median in-state tuition

$12,497

Lowest published in-state tuition

Antelope Valley Community College District

$1,124

Most selective

California Institute of the Arts

26% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

26,664 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Food Science program

  • Food chemistry and the behavior of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and water
  • Food microbiology and control of foodborne pathogens
  • Food processing and preservation methods including thermal treatment and refrigeration
  • Sensory evaluation and consumer taste-panel methods
  • Product development and formulation from concept to prototype
  • Quality assurance, food safety systems, and hazard analysis
  • Packaging, shelf-life testing, and storage stability
  • Laboratory analysis of food composition and contaminants
  • Food regulation, labeling, and toxicology fundamentals

Where a Food Science degree can lead

  • Food Scientist
  • Food Technologist
  • Quality Assurance Scientist
  • Product Development Scientist
  • Sensory Scientist
  • Food Safety Specialist

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 food scientists and technologists median $85,310).

Food science students study what happens to food on its way from a raw crop or animal product to something that is safe, stable, and ready to eat. The work draws on chemistry, microbiology, and physics: you learn why fats go rancid, how heat and acid kill harmful bacteria, what makes bread rise or an emulsion hold together, and how packaging, refrigeration, and additives extend shelf life. Coursework also reaches into human nutrition, sensory perception, and the toxicology and pathology behind foodborne illness. Unlike a nutrition or dietetics major, which centers on diet and human health, or an agriculture major, which centers on growing crops and raising livestock, food science is focused on the product itself and the engineering, chemistry, and quality controls that turn ingredients into the items on a shelf.

Most roles tied to this field start with a bachelor's degree, and the curriculum is lab-heavy: students run microbiology benchwork, chemical and physical analysis of food samples, sensory evaluation panels, and product-development projects, often ending in a capstone that takes a formulation from idea to prototype. Graduates work in food and beverage manufacturing, ingredient and flavor companies, quality-assurance and food-safety roles, research and product development, and government agencies that regulate the food supply. Some processing and safety roles call for specific certifications, and food-safety work is governed by federal and state regulation, so any credential or licensure requirement should be verified with the relevant authority and employer.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of food scientists and technologists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $85,310 and projects employment to grow about 6.5% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Food Science in other states

Other majors in California

Find more Food Science schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 175+ Food Science programs in California by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

Search Food Science schools in CaliforniaAbout the Food Science majorAll colleges in California

Related majors in California