Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Fortis College-Orange Park

This program's earnings tell a troubling story: graduates earn $31,984 in their first year—slightly above both national and state medians—but see their income drop 18% to just $26,357 by year four. That backward trajectory suggests graduates may struggle to advance in the field or find themselves in roles with limited growth potential.

The comparison to other Florida programs is particularly stark. While Fortis graduates rank in the 60th percentile statewide initially, they're dramatically outpaced by top options. Hillsborough Community College graduates earn nearly double ($61,237), and even mid-tier programs like Erwin Technical and H W Brewster produce earnings 50% higher. The debt load is middle-of-the-road at $10,854, manageable given the first-year earnings, but that ratio deteriorates as income slides. With 75% of students on Pell grants, most families here need programs that reliably improve financial stability—not ones where earnings peak immediately after graduation.

For a clinical laboratory certificate, other Florida schools demonstrate that significantly better outcomes are achievable. Unless geographic constraints make Fortis the only viable option, parents should seriously explore the community colleges and technical schools that consistently produce stronger earnings trajectories in this field.