BS Food Science at Iowa State University

Programme overview

Food science is a degree program focused on the role of the food industry in producing safe, nutritious, and acceptable foods for consumers. Food scientists apply basic science (chemistry, biology, physics, statistics) to improve processing, preservation, and safety of food and to develop new food products. The food science major is approved by the Institute of Food Technologists. Communicate effectively in their field of study using written, oral, visual and/or electronic forms.

Faculty: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ames, IA, United States

What you will study

Required and core courses listed in the curriculum include FSHN 3420 World Food Issues: Past and Present; MICRO 2010 Introduction to Microbiology; MICRO 3000L Introductory Microbiology Laboratory; FSHN 1010 Food and the Consumer; FSHN 1100 Professional and Educational Preparation; FSHN 1670 Introductory Human Nutrition and Health.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to Iowa State University and its college, not to the individual major (Iowa State does not make admission decisions by major). First-year applicants are admitted on the Regent Admission Index (RAI = ACT composite x 3 + cumulative GPA x 30 + years of high school core courses x 5); an RAI of at least 245 with the minimum high school course requirements (4 years English, 3 years mathematics including algebra, geometry and advanced algebra, 3 years science, 2 years social studies) receives automatic admission, and applicants below 245 may be considered through individual review. Iowa State is test-optional for first-year applicants.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year applicants include Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. International undergraduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted up to one year before the intended start date; applying at least six to eight weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

International undergraduate applicants pay a nonrefundable application fee of $65 by credit card through the online application system; fee waivers are not offered. SAT/ACT are not required for applicants educated abroad or for transfer students. First-year applicants: Iowa State is test-optional for ACT, SAT or CLT scores; admission is based on the Regent Admission Index. Apply with the institutional application or the Common App.

Apply through the official page: https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/online/

Explore more study programmes

Engineering