Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Youngstown State University

Similar programs across Ohio suggest a viable but not exceptional path for clinical laboratory science at the associate's level. Earnings from comparable programs sit at roughly $46,300—notably below what top regional competitors like Cincinnati State ($59,300) and Lakeland Community College ($53,000) report, though aligned with the state median. The estimated debt burden of $19,400 works out to about five months of that first-year income, creating a manageable if not particularly favorable debt-to-earnings equation.

The core challenge here is value relative to alternatives. Ohio has 24 programs in this field, and YSU's estimated outcomes fall in the middle of the pack despite being a four-year institution rather than a community college. That matters when you consider that many of the higher-earning programs carry similar or even lower debt loads. For a healthcare credential where hands-on technical skills matter more than institutional prestige, parents should question whether YSU's four-year setting justifies outcomes that mirror what community colleges deliver—often at lower cost and with faster time to degree.

If your child is already at YSU or values the four-year campus experience, this program appears workable with debt that won't overwhelm entry-level wages. But if you're shopping between Ohio schools, investigate why some programs produce graduates earning $10,000-$13,000 more annually. In healthcare technical fields, those differences often trace to clinical placement networks and regional employer relationships rather than classroom quality.