Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's clinical laboratory science program produces graduates earning roughly half what their peers make at other Ohio schools. At $35,443 in first-year earnings, this ranks in just the 10th percentile statewide—meaning 90% of similar programs in Ohio deliver better outcomes. For context, graduates from University of Cincinnati earn more than double ($72,390), while even Ohio's median for this field is $63,568.

The debt load of $27,000 sits close to national norms, but that's cold comfort when earnings are this low. Medical laboratory scientists typically enjoy strong starting salaries in the mid-$60,000s nationally, making this a field where most programs offer solid returns. Cleveland State appears to be a significant outlier. With 100+ graduates in the dataset, this isn't a statistical fluke—it reflects a consistent pattern of weak outcomes.

The most likely explanation is that graduates aren't securing the clinical laboratory positions this degree should lead to, perhaps ending up in lower-paying healthcare support roles instead. For families considering this program, the question isn't whether their child could get in (with a 95% admission rate, they likely will)—it's whether this investment makes sense when neighboring Ohio schools consistently place graduates into jobs paying $25,000-35,000 more annually. That salary gap compounds to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal reasons to choose Cleveland State specifically, prospective students should examine Ohio's higher-performing alternatives closely.