Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

UW-La Crosse graduates in this program start strong at $68,564—well above Wisconsin's median of $62,966 for med lab science programs and in the 60th percentile statewide. The bigger story here is the debt load: at just $19,500, it's roughly one-third of what Wisconsin students typically carry ($30,500) and far below the national median of $26,022. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in under four months of gross income. For a field where starting salaries often range between $60K-$70K, these are exceptionally manageable financial outcomes.

The earnings dip to $65,980 by year four is worth noting—a 4% decline rather than growth—though this could reflect career path choices or the program's small sample size (under 30 graduates makes these figures less reliable). What remains clear is that medical laboratory professionals have stable, well-paying careers even when earnings plateau rather than climb.

For parents evaluating this program, the combination of solid starting pay and remarkably low debt makes this a safer bet than most clinical lab programs in Wisconsin. The small cohort size means students likely get individualized attention, though the limited data also means these numbers could shift with future classes. If your child is interested in laboratory medicine and wants to stay in-state, this program offers one of the cleanest financial profiles available.