Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, NE · Public · Associate Degree · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

enrolling 6,235 students in Lincoln, NE.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,884 at Southeast Community College Area come in 18% above the national median of $39,620 for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 69.3x 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 career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At #19 of 146 nationally, this is a top-5% Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research offers 15 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
65
Score
65
High End
Earnings $46,884/yr (18% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$491K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
69.3x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$7,080
Out-of-state: $8,520

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Surgical technologists $62,830 +4.5% 93%
Health technologists and technicians, all other $48,790 +5.2% 48%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Surgical technologists
$62,830
+4.5% growth 93% AI-proof
Health technologists and technicians, all other
$48,790
+5.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Careers

You’ll likely start your career in a direct patient-care role like a phlebotomist. You’ll spend your days in a clinic or hospital, using needles and vacutainers to draw blood, calming nervous patients, and meticulously labeling samples that doctors rely on for life-saving diagnoses. From there, you can advance into a more specialized technologist role. This could mean operating complex diagnostic analyzers in a lab or becoming a surgical technologist, where you’ll prepare operating rooms and pass critical instruments to surgeons during procedures.

Read the full Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research career guide →

Compare & Explore

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Overview

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southeast Community College Area

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 65/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Southeast Community College Area?
A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research field.
Is Southeast Community College Area one of the best schools for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research?
Ranked #19 of 146 programs nationally, Southeast Community College Area lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research?
There are 15 registered apprenticeships connected to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research workers?
The career paths mapped to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research have roughly 79,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →