Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Glendale Career College

Glendale Career College's medical lab science certificate puts graduates nearly $9,000 ahead of the national median at $40,382—landing in the 82nd percentile nationally. That's strong initial positioning, though sitting at the 60th percentile within California suggests the state's lab programs generally outperform the rest of the country. The debt load of $8,971 is modest and well-proportioned to first-year earnings, creating a manageable 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The concerning trend is the earnings decline to $37,319 by year four—an 8% drop that's unusual for healthcare credentials. This could reflect graduates moving between clinical roles, switching to part-time work, or facing job market challenges specific to the region. It's worth noting that even with this decline, graduates still earn above both national and state medians, and they're not dramatically behind California's top performers like Contra Costa Medical Career College.

For parents evaluating this program: the low debt and strong initial earnings create a safe entry point into healthcare careers. The earnings dip warrants a conversation with the school about typical career trajectories and why this pattern emerges, but you're not gambling with heavy debt. With 55% of students on Pell grants, this program serves working-class families reasonably well, offering a quick path to earnings that, even in year four, beat most competing programs.