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Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
63
Optimistic
64
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,654/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)
ROI 13.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #31 of 99 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $660K $660K $607K
Earnings Multiple 13.0x 13.0x 12.0x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 53% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 64 63
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$50,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,636
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,000
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,250
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Northern Illinois University's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates start at $70,654/yr — above the $65,727 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x 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 typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,000 in median debt clears quickly against $70,654 in annual earnings.

At #31 of 99 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs, Northern Illinois University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Northern Illinois University

A 70% acceptance rate means Northern Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, serving 11,277 students in Dekalb, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Illinois University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Surgical technologists $62,830/yr
Health technologists and technicians, all other $48,790/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 99 schools offering Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research →

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Other Schools

CUNY York College ($105,425) Mercy University ($101,516) Farmingdale State College ($95,766) Stony Brook University ($92,286) College of Staten Island CUNY ($86,226) CUNY Hunter College ($86,173) University of Alaska Anchorage ($81,203) Rutgers University-Camden ($80,060)

Other Majors at Northern Illinois University

Computer Science ($77,257) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,557) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,442) Industrial Engineering ($72,112) Mechanical Engineering ($68,069) Accounting and Related Services ($63,743) Engineering Technology, General ($62,117) Finance and Financial Management Services ($54,802)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Northern Illinois University?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →