Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC-Chapel Hill's medical laboratory science program shows a puzzling disconnect: graduates from this selective university earn about $8,000 less than the national median for their field and trail behind Winston-Salem State and East Carolina graduates who make $60,000+. At the 40th percentile statewide, this places the program squarely in the middle of North Carolina's limited options—though that's not much comfort given the state's modest median of $60,441. The one bright spot is debt: at $18,750, it's notably lower than both state and national averages, giving graduates breathing room other lab science majors don't enjoy.

That debt advantage matters because the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 is manageable even with the lower starting salary. A graduate earning $56,721 can reasonably handle monthly loan payments without derailing other financial goals. However, the small sample size here is critical—with fewer than 30 graduates reporting, these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. One cohort landing predominantly in hospital labs versus research positions could explain significant variation.

For parents, this raises questions worth pursuing directly with the program: Why do graduates earn less than peers from less selective NC schools? Are they choosing research pathways over higher-paying clinical roles? The debt is low enough that this isn't a risky investment, but you'd expect a premium return from a school with a 19% admission rate.