Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, SC · Public · Certificate · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

with a mid-sized student body of 5,962 in Conway, SC.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $28,964/yr fall 27% below the $39,620 national median for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 67.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates.

At $9,500 in median debt against $28,964 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #72 out of 146 programs, Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

With 15 registered apprenticeships mapped to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

54 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
54
Score
55
High End
Earnings $28,964/yr (-27% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$303K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
67.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,468
Out-of-state: $8,836
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

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%
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 →

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 Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
At 54/100, Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Why are Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research earnings lower at Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Horry-Georgetown Technical College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates?
Yes — 15 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research career paths, including Blocker & Cutter Contact Lens. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research workers?
With approximately 79,700 annual openings across mapped careers, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →