Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Brigham Young University

Clinical laboratory science programs in Utah typically launch graduates into the mid-$60,000s, but BYU's outcomes tell a different story. At $54,333 in the first year—about $13,000 below what peer programs in the state produce—these earnings fall in the bottom quarter of Utah programs and the bottom 5% nationally. That gap matters when the estimated debt load of $25,269 is comparable to what students at higher-earning programs carry.

The stagnant earnings growth—just 1% over four years—compounds the problem. While graduates from the University of Utah and Weber State start $13,000 higher annually, BYU students aren't catching up; they're earning essentially the same four years out as they did on day one. This pattern is unusual for healthcare fields, where specialized skills typically command salary increases as professionals gain experience and certifications.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 seems manageable on paper, but it's based on earnings that are significantly underperforming the market. Before committing, you'd want to understand why BYU graduates in this program earn so much less than their counterparts at other Utah schools. Are they entering different sectors, working part-time, or facing placement challenges? Given BYU's strong academic profile (average SAT of 1376) and reasonable admission standards, the earnings gap isn't explained by student quality—which makes it all the more important to investigate what's driving these outcomes before enrolling.