Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Brookline College-Phoenix

Brookline College-Phoenix graduates start strong—earning $57,179 in their first year puts them well above the national average, though just slightly below Arizona's median for lab science programs. However, the concerning pattern emerges by year four, when earnings drop to $44,745, a 22% decline that's difficult to explain by career trajectory alone. With only a handful of graduates in this dataset, these numbers could reflect unusual circumstances—perhaps students moving between different lab roles or work settings—but that uncertainty itself matters when you're making a $22,637 investment.

The debt load is manageable relative to first-year earnings (a 0.40 ratio is reasonable), but the earnings decline creates a tougher picture than it initially appears. If the year-four number better reflects the typical career path, you're looking at a debt burden that's half your annual income. For context, Phoenix College's nearby program shows steadier earnings around $60,000, suggesting alternatives exist within the Arizona market that may offer more stability.

The small sample size means these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few more data points. If your child is considering this program, the first-year earnings suggest strong immediate employability, but you'd want to understand what's driving that earnings drop—and whether it's a statistical quirk or a real pattern—before committing.