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Clinical Laboratory Science at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · 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 $56,421/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

ROI 14.6x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #70 of 99 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$574K	$574K	$535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.6x	14.6x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.2x	7.2x	6.7x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	53%	44%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	58	57

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,436

Out-of-state: $79,756 (7.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$26,000

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,469

3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,240

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $56,421/yr, roughly in line with the $65,727 national median for Clinical Laboratory Science. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $56,421 far exceeding the $14,469 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #70 out of 99 programs, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's financial outcomes for Clinical Laboratory Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 27,026 students in Edinburg, TX. 64% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $26,000 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley →

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 Laboratory Science at Other Schools

Other Majors at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Clinical Laboratory Science program score?

A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley trails the majority of Clinical Laboratory Science programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

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