Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Illinois State University

Illinois State University's medical lab science program shows an unusual earnings pattern that deserves scrutiny: graduates earn $65,629 in their first year but see income drop to $57,984 by year four—a 12% decline that runs counter to typical career progression. More concerning, while initial earnings roughly match the national median, they fall short of Illinois's state median of $70,654, placing this program at the 40th percentile among the state's 16 laboratory science programs. That gap widens as earnings decline, suggesting graduates may face different job markets or career paths than peers from higher-performing programs like Northern Illinois or DeVry-Illinois.

The $25,470 debt load is manageable at 39% of first-year earnings, slightly better than the national median. But that ratio becomes less favorable as earnings decrease—by year four, that same debt represents a larger share of income. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) adds some uncertainty, but the earnings trajectory is clear enough to raise questions about whether graduates are finding stable positions in hospital labs and medical facilities, where salaries typically grow with experience.

For families considering this accessible program (89% admission rate), the value proposition hinges on those first-year opportunities. If your student can secure a strong initial position and build experience strategically, the debt is reasonable. But the downward earnings trend suggests some graduates may be struggling to advance or maintain full-time clinical work—something worth investigating through the school's career placement data.