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Food science professor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a food science professor. Food science professors usually study food science, food and nutrition, or human development. 28% of food science professors hold a doctoral degree, and 28% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 31 real food science professor resumes to see exactly what food science professor education sections show.

The most common colleges for food science professors are the New York Institute of Technology and the New York Institute of Technology.

There are also many online food science professor courses to help get the education required to be a food science professor.

What education do you need to become a food science professor?

What degree do you need to be a food science professor?

The most common degree for food science professors is doctoral degree, with 28% of food science professors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 28% and bachelor's degree degree at 28%.
  • Doctorate, 28%
  • Bachelor's, 28%
  • Master's, 28%
  • Diploma, 11%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a food science professor?

You should major in food science to become a food science professor. 24% of food science professors major in food science. Other common majors for a food science professor include food and nutrition and human development.

Most common colleges for food science professors

Food science professors often get their degrees at New York Institute of Technology, Johnson & Wales University, and University of Idaho. Here are the most common colleges for food science professors in the US based on their resumes.
Food science professor common collegePercentages
New York Institute of Technology11.11%
Johnson & Wales University11.11%
University of Idaho11.11%
Texas A&M University11.11%
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona11.11%

Best majors for food science professors

RankMajorPercentages
1Food Science23.8%
2Food And Nutrition14.3%
3Human Development4.8%
4Literature4.8%
5Business4.8%

Best colleges for food science professors

The best colleges for food science professors are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Stanford University.

A food science professor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for food science professors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become food science professors.

1. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for food science professors

Advertising disclosure

1. Child Nutrition and Cooking

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Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...

2. National Academy of Sports Medicine Nutrition Essentials

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NASM's Nutrition Coaching Essentials enables you to provide evidence-based guidance to those seeking to improve body composition, athletic performance, and health. By successfully completing this program, you will have the knowledge and abilities to leverage nutrition education to increase your client's success, reduce turnover, and maximize adherence. Held to the highest standard of research-based theory and practice, the Nutrition Essentials program teaches you how to provide nutritional...

3. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Nutrition

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4.6
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Learn the Fundamentals of Nutrition Science...

4. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification

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4.6
(2,112)

Become a Vegan Nutrition Certified Health Coach, Learn Vegan Cooking, Embrace a Holistic Approach to Food...

5. Stanford Introduction to Food and Health

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Around the world, we find ourselves facing global epidemics of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other predominantly diet-related diseases. To address these public health crises, we urgently need to explore innovative strategies for promoting healthful eating. There is strong evidence that global increases in the consumption of heavily processed foods, coupled with cultural shifts away from the preparation of food in the home, have contributed to high rates of preventable, chronic disease. In this...

6. Nutrition Hot Topics and Controversies

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Within the ever-changing nutrition landscape, it becomes difficult to understand current trending topics. Without a doubt, your friends and neighbors will have questions regarding these nutrition hot topics. Most people want to know what to believe or discard from what they hear, but they often lack the tools or the knowledge (or the time) to research topics as they become popular. This course has been designed to take an in-depth approach to explain the science behind many nutrition hot topics...

7. Health and Nutrition Life Coach Certification (Accredited)

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Life Coaching: Create a Workout & Nutrition Plan Based on Your Clients' Fitness, Weight Loss, Dieting & Nutrition Goals...

8. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Sports Nutrition

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Learn About The Fundamentals Of Sport Nutrition Science And How To Fuel Your Athlete Client...

9. Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management

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Learn about the impact of infectious disease on sustainable animal-based food production by understanding the science of growth, immunity, and infection and by learning the problem-solving skills needed to advance animal health and food production through optimal management practices. There is a growing global need in agricultural production for a workforce that is capable of integrating knowledge of animal health and production with an understanding of consumer preferences in the context of...

10. Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems

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Our society depends on the availability of food and accessibility to it. According to the United Nations nearly 800 million people are hungry and on the other hand, over 650 million people are obese. While many people in developing countries experience food shortage, in industrialized countries people are throwing food away. These facts show how paradoxical and complex the world’s food problem is. ln this course, more than 10 food researchers from Utrecht University will address the main issues...

11. Nutrition for Inflammation - The Anti-inflammatory Diet

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4.7
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Heal Your Body Using Food as Medicine...

12. Get to Know Your Food: Claims, Labels & Ingredients

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Learn how to make the healthiest and best food choices amidst processed and packaged foods...

13. The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health

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The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health provides an engaging overview of the incredible accomplishments and promise of the public health field. The first module includes interviews with legendary public health figures whose work led to millions of lives saved with vaccines, air bags and car seats, and the federal Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. The second module brings key public health tools to life -- including use of data, communications, and policy - through...

14. Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes

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Ensuring adequate nutrition is essential for infants to reach their full potential, as early-life nutritional imbalances and deficiencies may result in detrimental and often irreversible adverse health consequences. "Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes" focuses on the important aspects of human milk composition, human lactation, breastfeeding practices, and the use of breastmilk substitutes. In addition to the theoretical and practical aspects of infant nutrition, we also provide the latest...

15. Ketogenic Diet: Keto Nutrition Health Coach Certification

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Keto Nutrition Certified Health Coach Specialized in the Ketogenic Diet, Ketosis (Keto) and Intermittent Fasting...

16. Herbalism:: Wild Edible Plants for High Nutrition

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Identify and forage common wild foods for exceptional nutrition. This is essential for holistic and natural medicine...

17. Fully Accredited Professional Nutritionist Diploma Course

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Complete Nutrition For All - Exploring All Elements of Nutrition. Healthy Eating & Nutrition for all ages!...

18. Nutrition Certification: Advanced Diet & Meal Planning

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4.6
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Advanced Diet And Nutrition Coach Strategies Dieting Certificate For Meal Plans, Fat Loss, Health & Sports Nutrition...

19. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

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4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

20. Eat Real Food: How to Eat a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet

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4.5
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Learn how to be a healthy vegan or vegetarian in a holistic way for best health, weight, and wellbeing...

Top 10 most affordable universities for food science professors

The most affordable schools for food science professors are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for food science professors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for food science professors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for food science professors

The hardest universities for food science professors to get into are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for food science professors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for food science professors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

10. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for food science professors

The easiest schools for food science professors to get into are Barry University, d'youville college, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a food science professor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for food science professors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

8. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

9. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

10. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

Average food science professor salary by education level

According to our data, food science professors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $97,615 annually. Food science professors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $70,890.
Food science professor education levelFood science professor salary
Master's Degree$70,890
Doctorate Degree$97,615

Food science professor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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