Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Midwestern Career College
a compact campus enrolling 824 students in Chicago, IL.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $33,466 place Midwestern Career College below the $39,620 national median for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
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 4% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $33,466 far exceeding the $7,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #97 of 146 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs, Midwestern Career College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $36,106 are relatively flat compared to the $33,466 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.
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
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Other Schools
Other Majors at Midwestern Career College
Explore the Degree Alternative
Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.