Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Phoenix College

Phoenix, AZ · Public · Associate Degree · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

with a mid-sized student body of 6,952 in Phoenix, AZ.

Program Analysis

At $59,829 per year, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates from Phoenix College significantly outpace the $39,620 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 155.7x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates.

The median debt load of $6,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #2 ranking out of 146 programs puts Phoenix College in the top 1% for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth is modest: $59,829 to $71,539 over five years (20% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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.

74 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
70
Low End
74
Score
75
High End
Earnings $59,829/yr (51% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$738K
4.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
156.4x
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)
$4,716
Out-of-state: $17,916
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,750
1.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,539
20% 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 Phoenix College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Phoenix College?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What's the typical debt for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates from Phoenix College?
Median debt of just $6,750 against $59,829/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Phoenix College's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program stand out?
Ranked #2 of 146 programs nationally, Phoenix College lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 15 registered apprenticeships connected to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
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 →