Clinical Laboratory Science at Hillsborough Community College

Tampa, FL · Public · Certificate · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

enrolling 19,998 students in Tampa, FL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $61,237 put Hillsborough Community College's Clinical Laboratory Science program 55% above the national median of $39,620 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 255.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Clinical Laboratory Science programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Clinical Laboratory Science's career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $61,237 far exceeding the $9,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #1 of 146 Clinical Laboratory Science programs nationally, Hillsborough Community College sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Clinical Laboratory Science offers 15 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
76
Score
76
High End
Earnings $61,237/yr (55% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$61K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
255.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$2,506
Out-of-state: $9,111
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
1.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,247
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Clinical Laboratory Science 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%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Surgical technologists
$62,830
+4.5% growth 93% AI-proof
Health technologists and technicians, all other
$48,790
+5.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

Clinical Laboratory Science Career Guide

Clinical Laboratory Science opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Clinical Laboratory Science career guide →

Compare & Explore

Clinical Laboratory Science Overview

Clinical Laboratory Science at Other Schools

Other Majors at Hillsborough Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Clinical Laboratory Science at Hillsborough Community College?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Hillsborough Community College's Clinical Laboratory Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Clinical Laboratory Science at Hillsborough Community College?
Median debt of just $9,500 against $61,237/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Hillsborough Community College's Clinical Laboratory Science program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 146 programs nationally, Hillsborough Community College lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Clinical Laboratory Science graduates?
Beyond Hillsborough Community College's classroom route, 15 registered apprenticeships map to Clinical Laboratory Science careers — including Blocker & Cutter Contact Lens. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
What's the job market like for Clinical Laboratory Science from Hillsborough Community College?
The career paths mapped to Clinical Laboratory Science have roughly 79,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →