Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Bucks County Community College

Something appears fundamentally broken with this program. Graduates earn just $14,968 one year after completing their certificate—less than what minimum wage workers make in Pennsylvania. That's barely half the state median for this field ($27,151) and puts Bucks County Community College in the bottom 10th percentile statewide. Even Community College of Allegheny County, offering the same credential, produces graduates earning nearly twice as much.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could be statistical noise, but they're alarming enough to demand explanation before enrolling. Are most graduates working part-time? Are they continuing their education rather than entering the workforce? Is the certificate insufficient for most lab positions in Pennsylvania? The relatively low debt ($5,271) limits the financial damage, but that's cold comfort when the credential isn't translating to meaningful employment.

If your child is interested in medical laboratory science, look at Community College of Allegheny County's program or consider whether a full associate degree might be necessary for viable employment in this field. Don't assume all community college lab programs are equivalent—the $14,000 earnings gap between Bucks County and Allegheny County suggests they're not. At minimum, contact Bucks County's program directly and ask pointed questions about employment outcomes and whether most graduates immediately enter the workforce.