Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at East Carolina University

First-year earnings of $60,441 place this program exactly at North Carolina's median for clinical lab science degrees, though about $4,500 below what similar programs produce nationally. More concerning is the backward earnings trajectory—graduates earn roughly 8% less four years out than they do in their first year, dropping to $55,499. This unusual pattern runs counter to most healthcare fields where earnings typically climb with experience and credentials.

The estimated debt of $25,908, based on the national median across similar bachelor's programs, produces a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, this figure masks the real challenge: that debt load assumes you're earning $60,441, not the lower salary you're likely making by year four. Clinical lab science is generally a solid healthcare field with steady demand, but these numbers—particularly the earnings decline—suggest either graduates are shifting into lower-paying roles, leaving the field, or facing a compressed salary structure in North Carolina's healthcare market.

For a parent evaluating this investment, the key question is whether your student plans to stay in North Carolina. The program performs respectably against in-state alternatives but lags the national market. The declining earnings pattern warrants a direct conversation with the program about career trajectories—ask specifically why earnings drop rather than rise, and whether graduates are finding the advancement opportunities they expect in clinical laboratory work.