Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Pima Community College

The challenge with evaluating this program is that neither the earnings nor debt figures come from Pima's actual graduates—both are estimated from peer programs nationally. That matters because Arizona's lab science programs typically produce much stronger results: the state median shows first-year earnings of $58,504, with Phoenix College and Brookline College both reporting graduates earning around $58,000-$60,000. If Pima's program performs anywhere near that Arizona average, the estimated $48,026 figure significantly undersells its value.

The estimated debt of $19,698 appears reasonable for a two-year program at a community college and would represent a manageable burden at Arizona's typical earnings level—less than four months of gross income. Even at the conservative national estimate of $48,026, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 falls within acceptable parameters. The real question is whether Pima's graduates achieve outcomes closer to the $58,000 that other Arizona programs report or fall short of that mark.

Without actual outcome data from Pima, you're making an educated bet that their program performs similarly to other Arizona schools in this field. That's not unreasonable given the standardized nature of lab science training and certification, but it does mean you should verify what percentage of Pima's graduates pass their certification exams and secure employment in the field—factors that dramatically affect whether this program delivers on its potential.