Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech's clinical laboratory science program shows troubling first-year outcomes that should raise serious questions, though the small sample size means these numbers might not tell the full story. Graduates earn $38,756 initially—roughly $25,000 below what peers at Wayne State or Saginaw Valley State make, landing this program in the bottom 10th percentile statewide. While debt levels match national norms at $26,000, that translates to borrowing two-thirds of your first year's salary when other Michigan programs deliver significantly stronger starting positions.

The 58% earnings jump to $61,235 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, closing much of the gap with state averages. However, you'd still be trailing every other Michigan program listed above, despite Michigan Tech's respectable academic profile and the program carrying similar debt. The small cohort size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift dramatically year-to-year, but consistently landing in the bottom 10% statewide is concerning even accounting for statistical noise.

Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Michigan Tech specifically—perhaps research opportunities or geographic preference—other Michigan programs offer substantially better financial outcomes in this field. The state has strong alternatives that place graduates $25,000+ ahead right out of the gate, making this a hard program to justify from a pure return-on-investment standpoint.