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Health Professions · Clinical Laboratory Science Rank #66 of 99

Clinical Laboratory Scienceat Illinois State University

Graduates earn $65,629/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $629K; scenarios range from $582K to $630K depending on AI disruption.

Normal, IL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
58 SOLID
58
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$65,629
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$629K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
29% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Illinois State University

Illinois State University's Clinical Laboratory Science program produces graduates earning $65,629/yr — within striking distance of the $65,727 national average for this field.

A 9.8x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 8% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Clinical Laboratory Science career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,927 in median debt clears quickly against $65,629 in annual earnings.

A #66 ranking among 99 Clinical Laboratory Science programs places Illinois State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$582K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple9.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$629K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$630K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Illinois State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Clinical Laboratory Science graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
2
Surgical technologists
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 7,000 openings/yr
$62,830/yr
Low
3
Health technologists and technicians, all other
+5.2% 10-yr growth · 13,600 openings/yr
$48,790/yr
High
4
Medical equipment preparers
+10.0% 10-yr growth · 10,900 openings/yr
$46,490/yr
Low
5
Phlebotomists
+5.6% 10-yr growth · 18,400 openings/yr
$43,660/yr
Low
6
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 2,400 openings/yr
$38,420/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Clinical Laboratory Science

How Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
CUNY York College
NY · Public
65
DW Score
$105K
1-yr earn
34.8x
ROI
Mercy University
NY · Private nonprofit
58
DW Score
$102K
1-yr earn
10.5x
ROI
Top score
Farmingdale State College
NY · Public
76
DW Score
$96K
1-yr earn
26.5x
ROI
Stony Brook University
NY · Public
76
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
24.3x
ROI
College of Staten Island CUNY
NY · Public
75
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
30.2x
ROI
Also at Illinois State University

Other top programs at Illinois State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Clinical Laboratory Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Clinical Laboratory Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Clinical Laboratory Science at Illinois State University

What does a 58/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Clinical Laboratory Science at Illinois State University?

At 58/100, the score looks reasonable — but Clinical Laboratory Science is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.