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Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $69,255/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

ROI 18.2x earnings multiple (13.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 99 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs Top 10%

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	$677K	$676K	$621K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.2x	18.2x	16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	13.2x	13.2x	12.1x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	53%	44%
DegreeOutlook Score	70	70	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,196

Out-of-state: $51,236 (13.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,500

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$81,806

18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

South Dakota State University's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates start at $69,255/yr — above the $65,727 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.2x 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 — $26,500 in median debt clears quickly against $69,255 in annual earnings.

Ranked #8 of 99 programs, South Dakota State University's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $81,806 are relatively flat compared to the $69,255 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About South Dakota State University

A 99% acceptance rate means South Dakota State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota State 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

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Other Schools

Other Majors at South Dakota State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at South Dakota State University?

This program scores 70/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →