Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at University of St Francis

Lab science programs in Illinois cluster around $70,000 in first-year earnings, and this program appears positioned right at that mark based on outcomes from comparable schools in the state. With estimated debt of $25,000, graduates would face payments of roughly $280 monthly—manageable on a projected $70,654 salary. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold, suggesting this program could deliver reasonable value if the estimates hold true.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because University of St Francis has too few recent graduates to report actual outcomes, these figures are derived from peer programs—both the earnings (based on three other Illinois lab science programs) and the debt (based on similar private universities nationally). Lab tech roles tend to have fairly standardized salaries driven by certification requirements and hospital pay scales, which makes the earnings estimate more reliable than it might be in other fields. Still, you're making a $100,000+ investment based on what similar programs produce, not what this specific school delivers.

For parents comfortable with that uncertainty, the fundamentals look sound. Lab scientists enter a field with stable demand and clear career progression. If your student is drawn to this work and USF offers advantages like location or scholarship support, the estimated financial picture shouldn't discourage you. Just recognize you're betting on this program performing like its peers—a reasonable bet, but not a guaranteed one.