Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Quincy College

The debt-to-earnings ratio here looks manageable at first glance—an estimated $19,700 in debt against starting salaries that peer programs nationally suggest will be around $48,000. That's considerably better than many healthcare credentials. However, what's striking is the gap between the national baseline and what Massachusetts programs typically produce. Similar lab science programs in the state report median earnings of $61,000, with comparable community colleges like Springfield Tech and Middlesex placing graduates at $66,000 and $56,000 respectively by year four.

That $13,000 difference between the estimated national figure and the Massachusetts median matters enormously over a career. If Quincy's actual outcomes track closer to state norms than the national estimate suggests, this could be a solid investment—lab technician roles are in steady demand, and the debt load is reasonable. But if outcomes fall below the state average, you're looking at a credential that underperforms what other Massachusetts schools deliver in the same field. The upward trajectory from the estimated first-year figure to the reported $61,600 at year four suggests good potential, though without actual starting salary data from Quincy itself, it's impossible to know if that growth curve reflects this program's reality.

The key question: can your child access one of the stronger-performing Massachusetts programs? If Quincy is the only viable option due to location or cost, the field itself is sound—but if Springfield Tech or similar schools are realistic alternatives, the data suggests looking there first.