Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Hillsborough Community College
enrolling 19,998 students in Tampa, FL.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $61,237 put Hillsborough Community College's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research 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/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 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/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs nationally, Hillsborough Community College sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.
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
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
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research 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.