Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Austin Community College District
with 25,969 students enrolled in Austin, TX.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $48,737/yr, edging above the $39,620 national average for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 118.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research's career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.
Ranked #10 of 146 programs, Austin Community College District's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Earnings grow from $48,737 to $58,744 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research offers 15 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $105,620 | +17.3% | 52% |
| Surgical technologists | $62,830 | +4.5% | 93% |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other | $48,790 | +5.2% | 48% |
About Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Careers
You’ll likely start your career in a direct patient-care role like a phlebotomist. You’ll spend your days in a clinic or hospital, using needles and vacutainers to draw blood, calming nervous patients, and meticulously labeling samples that doctors rely on for life-saving diagnoses. From there, you can advance into a more specialized technologist role. This could mean operating complex diagnostic analyzers in a lab or becoming a surgical technologist, where you’ll prepare operating rooms and pass critical instruments to surgeons during procedures.
Read the full Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research career guide →
Compare & Explore
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Overview
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