Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at North Seattle College

North Seattle College's lab science certificate stands out sharply in Washington state, with graduates earning $49,101—about $7,000 more than the next closest program at Clover Park Technical College and nearly $11,000 above the state median. Nationally, these outcomes rank in the 95th percentile, putting this certificate in rare territory for a program that costs under $17,000 in median debt. That 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates carry debt equal to roughly four months of income, well below concerning thresholds.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is the main asterisk here. With so few data points, one exceptional cohort could skew the numbers significantly, and future graduates might see different outcomes. Still, the pattern is compelling: strong earnings paired with debt that's actually lower than many comparable programs when measured by national percentile (6th percentile, meaning 94% of similar programs see higher debt loads).

For families considering lab science training in the Seattle area, this certificate offers an unusually favorable financial setup—assuming you can tolerate the uncertainty that comes with limited data. The program appears to deliver both strong market outcomes and reasonable costs, but verify current employment connections and ask about recent graduate placement before committing. If those check out, you're looking at one of the better lab science training options in the state.