Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's medical laboratory science program sits in an unusual position: while it performs near the national average, it outpaces most Ohio competitors, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide despite earning slightly below the national median. That's worth noting in a state where several programs trail significantly—Cleveland State graduates earn barely half what Ohio State grads do.

The concerning pattern here is the earnings drop from $64,267 to $60,810 between year one and year four. That's unusual for healthcare-related fields and could signal either career path shifts or early burnout, though with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, a handful of career changes could skew the entire picture. The $22,500 debt load is manageable—about 35% of first-year earnings—and considerably lighter than the $30,178 Ohio median.

What makes this tricky is the limited sample size. These numbers might reflect a particularly strong or weak graduating cohort rather than the program's typical outcomes. If your child is drawn to clinical lab work, Ohio State provides reasonable value compared to in-state alternatives like Toledo ($66,225) or Bowling Green ($62,869), but the earnings trajectory deserves a conversation with current students or recent alumni about whether career satisfaction typically holds up past the first year. At this debt level, even if earnings plateau, you're not looking at a crushing financial burden.