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Senior food technologist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a senior food technologist. Senior food technologists usually study food science, biology, or chemistry. 69% of senior food technologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 150 real senior food technologist resumes to see exactly what senior food technologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for senior food technologists are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

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

What education do you need to become a senior food technologist?

What degree do you need to be a senior food technologist?

The most common degree for senior food technologists is bachelor's degree, with 69% of senior food technologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 23% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Master's, 23%
  • Associate, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 0%

What should I major in to become a senior food technologist?

You should major in food science to become a senior food technologist. 46% of senior food technologists major in food science. Other common majors for a senior food technologist include biology and chemistry.

Most common colleges for senior food technologists

Senior food technologists often get their degrees at Purdue University, Pennsylvania State University, and Ohio State University. Here are the most common colleges for senior food technologists in the US based on their resumes.
Senior food technologist common collegePercentages
Purdue University11.11%
Pennsylvania State University11.11%
Ohio State University8.89%
Culinary Institute of America8.89%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey6.67%

Best majors for senior food technologists

RankMajorPercentages
1Food Science45.9%
2Biology6.3%
3Chemistry6.3%
4Food And Nutrition5.4%
5Agriculture3.6%

Best colleges for senior food technologists

The best colleges for senior food technologists are Cornell University, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, and University of Maryland - College Park.

A senior food technologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for senior food technologists. 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 senior food technologists.

1. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

2. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

3. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

4. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

5. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

6. North Dakota State University

Fargo, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$9,414

Enrollment

11,182

7. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Enrollment

23,708

8. University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,402

Enrollment

30,698

9. Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$9,019

Enrollment

20,323

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

20 best online courses for senior food technologists

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1. Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management

coursera

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...

2. Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems

coursera

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...

3. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

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

4. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

udemy
4.3
(489)

The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

5. Stanford Introduction to Food and Health

coursera

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. Introduction to Food and Our Environment

coursera

This course is designed to help learners around the world become more sustainable eaters. Course videos can be watched in any order. Feel free to explore special areas of interest by skipping ahead and coming back to less familiar topics at a later stage. Together, we’ll explore key topics, like how food production impacts the environment and why meat production and protein consumption are often at the center of the debate around sustainability. We’ll introduce the pros and cons of different...

7. Fun food safety and sanitation course

udemy
4.6
(539)

The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...

8. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals

udemy
4.6
(1,644)

Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...

9. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety

udemy
4.4
(618)

Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...

10. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

udemy
4.6
(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

11. Basic Food Photography

udemy
4.2
(1,349)

Learn how to take delicious food photos from scratch...

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

udemy
4.4
(813)

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

13. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

udemy
4.7
(3,133)

With DIY Food Photography, you'll be taking better photos in no time with what you have in your own kitchen!...

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

udemy
4.5
(4,365)

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

15. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

udemy
4.5
(3,019)

Best course to learn about Blockchain Business Applications in Pharma, Food Safety, Healthcare and Insurance Industries...

16. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

17. You Found It! Foodies Ultimate Food Photography Masterclass

udemy
4.9
(571)

Beautiful Food Photography with any smartphone, iphone or digital camera. See Progress Quickly. Fundamentals matter!...

18. The Ultimate Food and Restaurant Business Course

udemy
4.5
(1,874)

For Existing Food & Restaurant Businesses & Start Ups. This course will significantly improve you chance of success...

19. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases

udemy
4.3
(930)

Boost your technicality (as a PM) or tech product skills (as an engineer) to grow in your current role...

20. Herbalism:: Wild Edible Plants for High Nutrition

udemy
4.8
(460)

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

Top 10 most affordable universities for senior food technologists

The most affordable schools for senior food technologists are University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, california state university - fresno, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for senior food technologists 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 senior food technologists.

1. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

2. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

5. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. Brigham Young University - Idaho

Rexburg, ID • Private

In-state tuition

$4,118

Cost of attendance

12,223

9. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Cost of attendance

17,885

10. Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Alva, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$7,471

Cost of attendance

15,616

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for senior food technologists

The hardest universities for senior food technologists to get into are Cornell University, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, and University of Maryland - College Park.

Some great schools for senior food technologists 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 senior food technologists 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. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

2. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,339

3. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,390

4. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

Admissions rate

49%

SAT average

1,345

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

6. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,336

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

60%

SAT average

1,303

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

1,336

10. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior food technologists

The easiest schools for senior food technologists to get into are Life University, north dakota state university, and south dakota state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a senior food technologist 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 senior food technologists.

1. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

2. North Dakota State University

Fargo, ND • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,170

3. South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,149

4. Clarke University

Dubuque, IA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

1,058

5. Washington State University

Pullman, WA • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,123

6. Alabama A & M University

Normal, AL • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

957

7. Framingham State University

Framingham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

73%

SAT average

1,046

8. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,019

9. Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Ames, IA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,219

10. Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,205

Average senior food technologist salary by education level

According to our data, senior food technologists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $64,614 annually. Senior food technologists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $55,848.
Senior food technologist education levelSenior food technologist salary
Master's Degree$64,614
Bachelor's Degree$55,848

Senior food technologist 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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