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

The warning signs here are immediate: graduates earn just $22,584 their first year, placing this program in the bottom quarter of Florida's 46 lab science certificate programs. While the $7,925 debt load seems manageable at first glance, it consumes 35% of that first year's salary—and the earnings themselves are $4,000 below Florida's median for these programs and nearly $9,000 below the national figure. For context, Florida's top performers like Hillsborough Community College see graduates earning $61,000, nearly triple what this program delivers. Even accounting for the 63% Pell grant population, these outcomes fall well short of what lab science training should provide.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers, so they may not represent the typical experience. However, when a healthcare certificate program leaves graduates earning less than many retail positions in central Florida, that's difficult to overlook. Lab science skills should command better compensation, and dozens of other Florida programs prove it's achievable.

**Bottom line**: Unless your child has compelling reasons to choose this specific program, Florida offers far stronger alternatives in lab science training. With 46 programs statewide, it's worth exploring options where graduates actually earn living wages—particularly community colleges with established healthcare employer relationships.