Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Columbia State Community College

First-year earnings of $48,168 position Columbia State's lab science graduates slightly above the national median for this field and comfortably ahead of Tennessee's $43,706 state median. More importantly, the estimated debt load of roughly $20,000—drawn from similar community college programs nationally—sits well below both the state median ($29,028) and national median ($24,994) for this credential. That 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, with graduates potentially able to clear their debt within a year or two of focused payments.

The caveat is that we're working with estimated debt figures here since this program's graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to publish actual outcomes. However, comparing earnings to other Tennessee lab science programs provides some reassurance: Columbia State graduates appear to earn more than those from Fortis Institute-Nashville and significantly more than South College's program, while the debt burden typical of community colleges remains lower than what four-year institutions charge for the same credential.

For parents evaluating this program, the math looks solid even accounting for the estimation uncertainty. Lab science jobs offer steady demand and require technical certification, making the associate's degree a legitimate entry point into healthcare careers. If the actual debt for Columbia State graduates tracks anywhere near the $20,000 estimate—a reasonable assumption given the school's community college pricing—this represents a practical path into a stable field without the debt burden that derails too many healthcare careers.