Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Boise State University

Laboratory science programs typically launch graduates into immediate, solid-paying work—and these national benchmarks suggest Boise State follows that pattern. With estimated first-year earnings around $65,000 and debt near $26,000, comparable programs nationally produce graduates who can realistically manage their loan payments on a single income. That 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio sits comfortably in the range where federal loan payments shouldn't dominate your monthly budget.

The uncertainty here matters, though: Boise State's actual outcomes aren't reported because too few graduates exist in recent cohorts to publish, so we're relying entirely on what similar programs produce elsewhere. Idaho State—the only in-state program with reported data—shows graduates earning about $62,000, slightly below the national median these estimates draw from. That gap isn't alarming, but it suggests regional salary differences might affect what your child actually earns versus what national averages predict.

The field itself offers reassurance. Medical laboratory scientists remain in consistent demand, with clear licensing pathways and relatively stable employment prospects. If your child is drawn to this work and Boise State's program provides the necessary clinical training and certification eligibility, the financial picture looks manageable based on what peer programs deliver. Just recognize you're betting on national trends holding true at a program without its own track record, rather than evaluating Boise State's proven outcomes.