Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Southwest University at El Paso

This program's graduates earn roughly $18,000 less annually than the typical clinical lab science graduate in Texas—ranking it in the bottom 10% statewide. Even more troubling, earnings actually drop 13% by the fourth year out, falling to $26,536. When Texas's median for this program sits near $49,000, and nearby community colleges consistently place graduates above $48,000, that $30,000 starting salary represents a significant shortfall.

The debt picture adds weight to these concerns. While the $26,496 median debt isn't dramatically high in absolute terms, it nearly equals first-year earnings (0.87 ratio). Given that 79% of students receive Pell grants, many families here are counting on this credential to deliver immediate financial stability. Instead, graduates face loan payments on an income that's already modest and declining—a particularly difficult combination for first-generation college students who may lack financial cushions.

The earnings trajectory suggests graduates may be landing in lower-tier lab positions without clear advancement paths, or possibly leaving the field entirely. With multiple Texas community colleges producing graduates who earn 60% more right out of the gate, families should seriously question whether this program opens the same doors. If clinical laboratory work is the goal, stronger in-state alternatives exist that won't leave students struggling to service debt on a below-market salary.