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

Brookline College-Tucson's lab science certificate delivers below-market earnings that actually decline after graduation—a troubling trajectory for a healthcare credential. While median debt of $13,599 stays below national levels for similar certificates, graduates earn just $25,699 in their first year, dropping to $22,262 by year four. This puts the program at the 40th percentile among Arizona lab science certificates, meaning most in-state competitors produce better outcomes. For context, Pima Medical Institute's three Arizona campuses see graduates earning $31,000+, roughly $6,000 more annually than Brookline's cohort.

The negative earnings growth is particularly concerning in a field where technical skills typically command wage premiums as experience accumulates. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 means graduates owe about six months' salary—manageable on paper, but less so when annual income barely exceeds $22,000 after four years. With 67% of students receiving Pell grants, many are relying on this certificate as a pathway to stable employment, making the modest returns especially consequential.

If your child is committed to lab science in Tucson, Pima Medical Institute's local campus shows significantly stronger graduate earnings. This Brookline certificate might make sense only as a stepping stone to further credentials or for students with zero-debt financing options.