Which state pays medical laboratory science bachelor's graduates the most?

New York, where the median program pays its graduates $89,256 in their first year, the highest of 3 state rankings. Michigan is next, at $63,038.

Which medical laboratory science bachelor's program pays the most?

CUNY York College in New York reports the highest first-year pay of the 94 programs ranked here, $105,425. Its median federal debt is $11,000.

How much debt do medical laboratory science bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $25,875 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 39% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Medical Laboratory Science (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

94 programs report first-year pay
3 state rankings
Bachelor's in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median medical laboratory science bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $64,649 in their first year and $71,537 five years after. New York has the highest state median ($89,256), and Texas the lowest ($61,461). The median program leaves its graduates with $25,875 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$64,649Across 94 programs

Median pay after 5 years$71,537Across 68 programs

Median federal debt$25,875Across 77 programs

Debt-to-earnings39%Across 77 programs

All 94 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	CUNY York CollegeJamaica, NY · public	$105,425	$97,687	Not reported	$11,000	10%
2	Mercy UniversityDobbs Ferry, NY · private nonprofit	$101,516	$94,065	Not reported	$31,000	31%
3	Farmingdale State CollegeFarmingdale, NY · public	$95,766	$88,737	$94,447	$26,470	28%
4	Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · public	$92,286	$85,513	$106,814	$17,538	19%
5	College of Staten IslandStaten Island, NY · public	$86,226	Not adjusted	$93,443	Not reported	Not reported
6	Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · public	$86,173	$79,848	$95,931	Not reported	Not reported
7	University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, AK · public	$81,203	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
8	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$80,060	$73,581	$91,204	$29,682	37%
9	Boston UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$77,660	$73,432	Not reported	$6,250	8%
10	Saint Cloud StateSaint Cloud, MN · public	$74,147	$75,184	$67,441	$28,882	39%
11	UMass DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA · public	$74,097	$70,063	$76,305	$29,898	40%
12	Oregon Institute of TechnologyKlamath Falls, OR · public	$73,903	$71,500	$82,953	$28,665	39%
13	University of DelawareNewark, DE · public	$73,722	$73,864	$75,443	$25,908	35%
14	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$73,403	$74,429	Not reported	$25,875	35%
15	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$72,390	Not adjusted	$75,664	$33,814	47%
16	Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA · public	$71,074	$73,810	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
17	DeVry UniversityLisle, IL · private for-profit	$70,874	Not adjusted	$74,687	$57,500	81%
18	IU IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · public	$70,833	$75,896	$72,157	$23,250	33%
19	Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · public	$70,654	$70,684	$69,250	$23,750	34%
20	Wayne StateDetroit, MI · public	$70,611	$73,387	$73,379	$31,975	45%
21	Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and ScienceRochester, MN · private nonprofit	$70,333	$71,316	$72,378	$25,250	36%
22	University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · public	$70,264	$65,107	$84,530	$21,842	31%
23	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$70,225	$65,623	$81,461	$20,096	29%
24	Austin PeayClarksville, TN · public	$70,028	Not adjusted	$75,418	$22,810	33%
25	Tarleton StateStephenville, TX · public	$69,675	$71,788	$72,621	$23,056	33%
26	South Dakota StateBrookings, SD · public	$69,255	Not adjusted	$81,806	$31,000	45%
27	UMass LowellLowell, MA · public	$69,216	$65,448	$75,806	$27,000	39%
28	UW-La CrosseLa Crosse, WI · public	$68,564	Not adjusted	$72,142	$19,500	28%
29	University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND · public	$68,029	Not adjusted	$68,989	$26,043	38%
30	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$67,965	$68,746	Not reported	$25,000	37%
31	Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD · public	$67,679	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
32	Texas StateSan Marcos, TX · public	$67,589	$69,638	Not reported	$22,872	34%
33	Weber StateOgden, UT · public	$67,576	Not adjusted	$81,810	$26,733	40%
34	VCURichmond, VA · public	$67,072	$66,340	$71,425	$24,589	37%
35	George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$66,905	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,269	38%
36	GCUPhoenix, AZ · private nonprofit	$66,736	Not adjusted	$73,611	$38,682	58%
37	University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NE · public	$66,712	$74,040	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
38	Saginaw Valley StateUniversity Center, MI · public	$66,597	$69,215	Not reported	$31,750	48%
39	University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · public	$66,445	$64,964	$80,596	$26,045	39%
40	University of ToledoToledo, OH · public	$66,225	$71,383	Not reported	$33,356	50%
41	Ferris StateBig Rapids, MI · public	$65,935	$68,527	$69,970	$29,503	45%
42	Winona StateWinona, MN · public	$65,883	Not adjusted	$79,354	Not reported	Not reported
43	Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI · public	$65,737	$68,322	$70,372	Not reported	Not reported
44	University of West FloridaPensacola, FL · public	$65,673	$63,505	$68,243	$21,032	32%
45	Illinois StateNormal, IL · public	$65,629	$65,657	$65,434	$25,470	39%
46	University of VermontBurlington, VT · public	$64,930	Not adjusted	$74,340	$26,299	41%
47	UL MonroeMonroe, LA · public	$64,772	$73,432	Not reported	$21,053	33%
48	Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-ShreveportShreveport, LA · public	$64,525	Not adjusted	Not reported	$40,400	63%
49	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$64,267	$69,273	$71,648	$22,500	35%
50	Radford UniversityRadford, VA · public	$63,606	$62,911	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
51	WVUMorgantown, WV · public	$63,522	$70,977	$65,654	$26,050	41%
52	Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuse, NY · public	$63,447	$58,790	$68,140	$25,000	39%
53	Grand Valley StateAllendale, MI · public	$63,038	$65,516	Not reported	$31,741	50%
54	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$62,966	$66,917	$68,982	$30,500	48%
55	Northeastern StateTahlequah, OK · public	$62,912	$71,619	Not reported	$21,330	34%
56	Bowling Green StateBowling Green, OH · public	$62,869	Not adjusted	$69,623	Not reported	Not reported
57	University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX · public	$62,861	$64,767	Not reported	$15,000	24%
58	UCFOrlando, FL · public	$62,453	$60,391	Not reported	$21,405	34%
59	Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · public	$62,447	$64,851	$70,709	$27,000	43%
60	Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterLubbock, TX · public	$62,373	$64,264	$73,354	$25,000	40%
61	Idaho StatePocatello, ID · public	$62,085	$65,015	$68,800	$28,000	45%
62	Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, AL · public	$61,612	$69,365	Not reported	$26,544	43%
63	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$61,461	$63,325	Not reported	$23,000	37%
64	Wright StateDayton, OH · public	$61,401	$66,183	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
65	LSU Health New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · public	$61,067	$69,231	$72,558	$38,689	63%
66	Marshall UniversityHuntington, WV · public	$60,610	Not adjusted	Not reported	$24,698	41%
67	Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA · public	$60,601	$59,939	$68,645	$26,938	44%
68	Winston-Salem StateWinston-Salem, NC · public	$60,442	$64,078	Not reported	$25,361	42%
69	East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · public	$60,441	$64,077	$63,109	Not reported	Not reported
70	Wichita StateWichita, KS · public	$60,287	$66,935	$68,214	$21,395	35%
71	UW-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI · public	$59,690	$63,436	$65,426	$31,000	52%
72	Thomas UniversityThomasville, GA · private nonprofit	$59,675	$61,972	$74,099	$23,000	39%
73	UTMBGalveston, TX · public	$59,591	$61,398	Not reported	$25,000	42%
74	University of KentuckyLexington, KY · public	$59,282	$65,753	$65,512	$23,250	39%
75	University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle Rock, AR · public	$59,134	$68,019	$64,704	$19,999	34%
76	North Dakota StateFargo, ND · public	$58,799	Not adjusted	$68,601	$31,000	53%
77	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, FL · public	$58,048	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
78	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$57,178	$62,007	Not reported	$25,625	45%
79	UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · public	$56,721	$60,133	Not reported	$18,750	33%
80	Arkansas StateJonesboro, AR · public	$56,697	$65,216	$53,603	Not reported	Not reported
81	UTRGVEdinburg, TX · public	$56,421	$58,132	$56,240	$13,825	25%
82	Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI · public	$55,992	$58,193	$67,395	$28,021	50%
83	Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KY · public	$55,917	$62,020	$66,658	$25,000	45%
84	National UniversitySan Diego, CA · private nonprofit	$55,562	$50,182	$73,278	$38,486	69%
85	Ole MissUniversity, MS · public	$54,947	$63,192	$59,113	Not reported	Not reported
86	UTEPEl Paso, TX · public	$54,659	$56,316	$60,471	$21,944	40%
87	Northern Michigan UniversityMarquette, MI · public	$54,336	$56,472	$67,026	$28,873	53%
88	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$54,333	$54,957	$46,135	Not reported	Not reported
89	Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TX · public	$54,327	$55,974	$64,846	Not reported	Not reported
90	Michigan StateEast Lansing, MI · public	$47,202	$49,058	$70,284	$27,000	57%
91	Cal State Dominguez HillsCarson, CA · public	$44,374	$40,078	$126,318	$20,125	45%
92	Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$40,156	Not adjusted	$68,231	$27,000	67%
93	Michigan TechHoughton, MI · public	$38,756	Not adjusted	$63,723	$26,000	67%
94	Cleveland StateCleveland, OH · public	$35,443	$38,204	Not reported	$27,000	76%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 73 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 21, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

17 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked.

Medical Laboratory Science (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's medical laboratory science bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	New York	8	$89,256	$23,421
2	Michigan	9	$63,038	$29,188
3	Texas	9	$61,461	$22,936

Programs in 37 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

CUNY York College, NY$11,000
UTRGV, TX$13,825
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX$15,000
Stony Brook University, NY$17,538
University at Buffalo, NY$21,842
UTEP, TX$21,944
Texas State, TX$22,872
UT Austin, TX$23,000
Tarleton State, TX$23,056
Upstate Medical University, NY$25,000

Lowest debt for the pay

CUNY York College, NY10%
Stony Brook University, NY19%
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX24%
UTRGV, TX25%
Farmingdale State College, NY28%
Mercy University, NY31%
University at Buffalo, NY31%
Tarleton State, TX33%
Texas State, TX34%
UT Austin, TX37%

Only the 22 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to medical laboratory science, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

$62,930

Median pay in the US. 332,940 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 20,800 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $38,910Top 10%: $100,990

Phlebotomists

$45,230

Median pay in the US. 143,540 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: postsecondary nondegree award.

Bottom 10%: $35,780Top 10%: $58,780

Surgical Technologists

$64,650

Median pay in the US. 117,460 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,100 openings a year. Typical education to start: postsecondary nondegree award.

Bottom 10%: $45,940Top 10%: $96,940

Medical Equipment Preparers

$47,700

Median pay in the US. 77,420 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,700 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $36,410Top 10%: $69,950

Common questions

The median medical laboratory science bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $64,649 in their first year and $71,537 five years after.

Medical Laboratory Science (Certificate) programs in the US, ranked65 programs by pay and debt

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024