Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology

The small sample size here demands caution, but Cambridge College's lab science certificate shows a puzzling pattern: it underperforms nationally (34th percentile) yet ranks above the Florida median (60th percentile). That's because Florida's medical lab market pays surprisingly low across the board—the state median of $26,579 trails the national figure by $4,500. At $27,358, Cambridge graduates are earning roughly what they'd make at the state's median program, but thousands less than what the top Florida programs deliver. Hillsborough Community College graduates, for instance, earn more than twice as much at $61,237, suggesting Cambridge students may lack access to the same employer networks or clinical training sites.

The manageable $10,250 debt keeps this from being a financial disaster—with a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates could theoretically pay it off within a year if they lived frugally. But here's the real concern: these are one-year-out earnings for a healthcare credential, a field where starting salaries typically represent the floor, not the ceiling. If Cambridge graduates are already trailing national norms this early, and 58% of students qualify for Pell grants, you're looking at a program that may not provide adequate clinical preparation or job placement support. Unless there's a specific reason this school offers unique access or convenience, Florida families should explore community college options like Hillsborough or even technical programs like Erwin Tech that deliver substantially better wage outcomes.