Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Rockhurst University

When your child's earnings data must be estimated from national benchmarks rather than actual outcomes, you're placing significant faith in a program's ability to match peer results. In this case, comparable clinical laboratory science bachelor's programs across the country suggest first-year earnings around $65,000 against an estimated $25,000 in debt—a 0.39 ratio that would typically be considered manageable. However, Missouri tells a different story: Saint Louis University, the only school in the state with reportable outcomes, shows graduates earning $40,000, a full $25,000 less than the national figure used here. That gap should raise questions about whether Rockhurst's program will deliver outcomes closer to national norms or fall in line with what Missouri's market actually pays.

The absence of actual data from Rockhurst becomes more concerning when you consider they're one of 15 schools offering this degree in Missouri, yet only one has a large enough graduate cohort for the DOE to publish earnings. This suggests either very small class sizes or perhaps program instability. Combined with Rockhurst's $55,000+ annual cost of attendance (implied by the low Pell rate and private institution status), you're betting that a small, potentially untested program will produce outcomes that significantly exceed what's been documented elsewhere in the state. Before committing, verify the program's track record directly with the school—ask for graduate employment data, lab partnerships, and certification pass rates that would justify confidence in beating Missouri's demonstrated $40,000 baseline.