Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN · Public · Certificate · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

with 54,926 students enrolled in Indianapolis, IN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $23,166 place Ivy Tech Community College below the $39,620 national median for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 81.7x 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 40% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $23,166 far exceeding the $6,298 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #79 of 146 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs, Ivy Tech Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $39,383 show a 70% jump from the $23,166 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

52 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
44
Low End
52
Score
52
High End
Earnings $23,166/yr (-42% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$407K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
82.8x
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)
$4,912
Out-of-state: $9,465
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,298
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,383
70% growth from Year 1

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 Ivy Tech Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ivy Tech Community College's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program score?
This program scores 52/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
What's the typical debt for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates from Ivy Tech Community College?
Median debt of just $6,298 against $23,166/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research from Ivy Tech Community College?
Lower starting pay at Ivy Tech Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research?
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research connects to 15 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How sensitive is Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research to AI disruption?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Is there demand for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research workers?
The career paths mapped to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research have roughly 79,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →