Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Concorde Career College-Memphis

The estimated $29,000 debt load here exceeds what most Tennessee lab science programs charge, yet earnings projections suggest you'll land at the lower end of what comparable programs produce—about $4,300 below the national median for this associate degree. For a program serving predominantly Pell-eligible students, this debt-to-earnings gap matters: while a 0.66 ratio isn't catastrophic, it means your child would start with debt equal to roughly two-thirds of their first-year salary in a field where community colleges like Columbia State appear to deliver stronger outcomes at potentially lower cost.

The challenge is that these figures come from peer programs across Tennessee, not Concorde-Memphis graduates specifically. Similar medical lab programs in the state show a wide range—Columbia State grads earn nearly $48,000 while South College grads average just over $30,000. Without knowing where Concorde actually falls in this spectrum, you're betting on outcomes that could swing either way. The program's relatively high estimated debt compared to the state median suggests tuition costs may be elevated, which makes the lack of actual graduate data particularly concerning when lower-debt community college alternatives exist nearby with proven track records.

If your child is set on medical laboratory work, push Concorde directly for their actual graduate outcomes before committing. The field itself is solid, but at this price point with these uncertainties, you need to see real numbers—not estimates—to justify choosing this path over Tennessee's public options.