Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at University of Nebraska Medical Center

A bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science from UNMC comes with an estimated $25,900 in debt and first-year earnings of $66,712—a debt load that graduates could reasonably pay off within a few years. That debt figure is based on what similar health science programs at UNMC typically produce, since the lab science program itself doesn't have enough graduates to report separately. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests manageable repayment, particularly given the stability of lab science careers in healthcare.

The earnings of $66,712 exceed the national median for this field by about $1,800, placing UNMC grads slightly above the middle of the pack nationally. This makes sense given Nebraska's healthcare market and the demand for medical laboratory professionals. Clinical lab scientists find steady work in hospitals, reference labs, and public health facilities—careers with clear advancement paths and professional licensing requirements that provide some employment security.

The limited data here—both the estimated debt and the small number of programs in Nebraska—means you're making this decision with less certainty than you'd like. What matters most is whether your child is committed to laboratory medicine specifically, since this degree leads to a defined career path rather than a general science background. If they're certain about this direction, the estimated financial picture looks reasonable for a healthcare profession with reliable employment prospects.