Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Southern University at Shreveport

Southern University at Shreveport's clinical laboratory certificate shows troubling earnings that fall far below both state and national standards—but the small sample size means these numbers may not tell the full story. Recent graduates earn just $17,439 their first year, landing in the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within Louisiana, where the state median for this program is $23,699. That's a gap of over $6,000 compared to other Louisiana programs, and roughly half what graduates earn nationally.

The 24% earnings growth to $21,542 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, but graduates still trail far behind peers. The debt load of $11,125 is reasonable on its own—slightly above the state median—but becomes problematic when paired with such low initial earnings. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 means graduates owe more than half their annual salary, making loan repayment a likely struggle in those early years.

With half of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a population that can least afford a credential with weak earning potential. Before committing, parents should verify these outcomes with the school directly and understand why graduates here earn so much less than at comparable Louisiana programs. The small sample size offers some hope that these numbers aren't representative, but you need solid answers before investing time and money.