Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

A $25,000 debt load for training that national peer programs suggest leads to $65,000 first-year earnings creates a manageable starting point in medical laboratory science. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means graduates would owe roughly five months of gross salary—well within the bounds of responsible borrowing for healthcare credentials. With over half the student body receiving Pell grants, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods serves students who often need to make every tuition dollar count.

The uncertainty here matters, though. Similar programs in Indiana typically produce stronger first-year outcomes around $71,000, and with 15 lab science programs across the state, Indiana University-Indianapolis reports that exact figure. Whether Saint Mary-of-the-Woods matches state norms or falls closer to the national median makes a real difference in how quickly graduates can pay down debt and build financial stability. The $6,000 gap between state and national benchmarks represents meaningful breathing room in a first-year budget.

For families evaluating this program, the key question is whether Saint Mary-of-the-Woods' clinical training and job placement support justify choosing it over larger Indiana programs with documented track records. Medical laboratory scientists face strong job prospects nationally, but without school-specific outcome data, you're betting on the strength of the credential itself rather than this institution's particular results in placing graduates.