Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Associate's Degree) at Navarro College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$48,737

Est. from TX median (5 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$19,698

Est. from national median (27 programs)

Analysis

Medical laboratory technician programs in Texas cluster tightly around $49,000 in first-year earnings, and Navarro College appears positioned right in that range. Based on comparable programs statewide, graduates here are likely earning close to what their peers at Austin Community College or Houston Community College take home—solid middle-class starting salaries for a two-year degree. The estimated $19,700 debt load sits notably below both state and national averages for these programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 that suggests manageable repayment.

The healthcare laboratory field offers unusual stability for an associate degree program, with fairly consistent outcomes across different schools. That said, these figures are estimates drawn from similar Texas programs since Navarro's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to report. The actual experience could vary, particularly in a smaller program where job placement support and clinical site partnerships matter enormously.

For parents evaluating this path, the math looks promising on paper—lower-than-average debt paired with earnings that match state benchmarks. The real questions worth investigating are program-specific: Does Navarro have strong clinical affiliations in your area? What's their first-time certification exam pass rate? Those details will determine whether this particular program delivers on what similar programs across Texas typically produce.

Where Navarro College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions associates's programs at peer institutions in Texas (19 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Navarro CollegeCorsicana	$3,008	$48,737*	—	$19,698*	—
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville	$7,878	$51,327*	$57,425	$21,125*	0.41
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena	$1,992	$49,631*	$39,923	—*	—
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$48,737*	$49,071	—*	—
Houston Community CollegeHouston	$2,040	$48,172*	$47,615	$16,250*	0.34
Southwest University at El PasoEl Paso	$16,000	$30,423*	$26,536	$26,496*	0.87
National Median	—	$48,026*	—	$24,994*	0.52

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Surgical Technologists

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

$62,480/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.

$45,820/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Phlebotomists

Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

$43,660/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.

Cytogenetic Technologists

Analyze chromosomes or chromosome segments found in biological specimens, such as amniotic fluids, bone marrow, solid tumors, and blood to aid in the study, diagnosis, classification, or treatment of inherited or acquired genetic diseases. Conduct analyses through classical cytogenetic, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) techniques.

Cytotechnologists

Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.

Histotechnologists

Apply knowledge of health and disease causes to evaluate new laboratory techniques and procedures to examine tissue samples. Process and prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May solve technical or instrument problems or assist with research studies.

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Navarro College, approximately 32% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.