Program Analysis
Graduates earn $68,564/yr, roughly in line with the $65,727 national median for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 16.0x 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 $68,564 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #20 out of 99 programs, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth is modest: $68,564 to $72,142 over five years (5% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.