Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Rasmussen University-Illinois

Lab tech programs in Illinois generally hover in the low-to-mid $40,000s, making Rasmussen's outcomes fairly typical for the state—right at the median for both earnings and debt. The starting salary of $43,637 trails the national benchmark by about $4,400, though four-year earnings of $48,300 close that gap. With 63% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves primarily lower-income students who need immediate career entry, and the 11% earnings growth suggests steady advancement in the field.

The debt load of $27,535 isn't alarming in absolute terms—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 means graduates earn enough to manage repayment. However, this program ranks in just the 23rd percentile nationally for earnings, meaning nearly 80% of similar programs nationwide produce better-paid graduates. That context matters when evaluating whether a student should pursue this credential elsewhere, particularly since Illinois has 15 programs to choose from.

The most significant limitation here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift considerably with more data. For parents of students already living in the Rockford area who need a quick path to stable employment, this program works—graduates earn livable wages and avoid crushing debt. But families with geographic flexibility should compare outcomes at other Illinois schools before committing, especially since Rasmussen's outcomes barely edge past the bottom quarter nationally.