Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Marshall University

Marshall University's clinical laboratory science program produces graduates earning about $60,610 in their first year—roughly $4,000 below the national median and $1,500 below West Virginia's typical outcome. Among the state's four programs, this places Marshall's graduates at the 40th percentile, trailing West Virginia University's more competitive offering. The debt load of $24,698 is manageable at a 0.41 ratio to first-year earnings, meaning graduates would dedicate less than half of one year's salary to repaying loans if they paid aggressively.

That said, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these figures less reliable than data from larger programs. Lab science careers typically offer stable employment in West Virginia's healthcare sector, but Marshall's graduates appear to land at lower-paying facilities or positions than peers from WVU. The 96% admission rate and modest test scores suggest this program serves a broad range of students, which may explain some of the earnings gap—but doesn't change the bottom line for your family.

For an anxious parent, here's what matters: your child will likely secure solid employment with reasonable debt, but Marshall doesn't appear to open doors to the higher-paying lab positions in the state. If cost is similar between Marshall and WVU, the latter shows a $3,000 first-year earnings advantage that compounds over a career.