by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 818 U.S. colleges awarded 22,462 degrees and certificates in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 28% of graduates. College Factual ranks 534 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,086 one year after completing, rising to $50,767 after four years.
Sometimes, doctors must collect samples and test them for abnormalities or signs of illness. If you are interested in performing these tests, consider a degree in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science.
Students in this major take classes in organic chemistry, genetics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, hematology, and immunology to learn how to properly test bodily fluids, tissues, and other samples for diseases. You will gain the skills to work with laboratory equipment, interpret data, and perform tests to help physicians find and treat patients' illnesses.
Areas of specialization within the Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science field include Blood Bank Technology, Hematology Technology, Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Clinical Genetics Technology and many others.
Studying Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science covers Clinical/medical Laboratory Science/research And Allied Professions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, clinical/medical laboratory science draws strong interest, with 22,462 degrees awarded annually. 818 colleges award clinical/medical laboratory science degrees, an average of 27 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 644.
By level, the 22,462 awards include 1,492 certificates, 2,829 associate degrees, 4,020 bachelor’s degrees, 6,276 master’s degrees and 63 doctorates.
Women earned 84% of clinical/medical laboratory science degrees and certificates in the latest year (18,987 of 22,462). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8,787) and Hispanic or Latino (5,507), and international students earned 297.
College Factual ranks 534 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools ranking, including 120 for associate degrees, 110 for bachelor’s degrees, 19 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks clinical/medical laboratory science schools within 46 states. In all, 818 colleges offer clinical/medical laboratory science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common clinical/medical laboratory science credential is the master’s degree: 6,276 of the 22,462 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to clinical/medical laboratory science call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Students who major in this field have strong analysis skills and pay close attention to detail. You must collect samples and perform specific tests in order to help physicians find any diseases within a person. Strong organizational and communication skills will help you collect data and share findings. Professionals also have interpersonal skills since they work closely with patients to collect samples.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science professionals work full time. Depending on your job location, you may work typical work hours during the day, or be part of a 24/7 facility that requires weekend, holiday, and overnight hours.
Depending on the state you are working and your employer, you may need to be certified to work in this field. It is best to check state laws to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements for this career.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a clinical/medical laboratory science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,492 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,829 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,020 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,276 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 63 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to clinical/medical laboratory science, at 30.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.1% |
| Master’s degree | 10.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 4.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science, with an average median salary of $93,545; the strongest outlook belongs to Neurodiagnostic Technologists, at 14.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Histotechnician, Histologic Aide, Histologist and Cytologist.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science graduates work in medical labs in a variety of locations. Some graduates are employed by hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs, and in physician offices. You will have the skills to test any necessary specimen, making you an asset to the medical profession. This occupation is growing at an average rate, meaning there should be an adequate amount of jobs available to students after graduation.
The occupation related to clinical/medical laboratory science with the most projected jobs is Patient Representatives, at 3,368,169.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
| Surgical Technologists | 1,820,366 | -3.0% |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science graduates earn a median $43,086 one year after completing their program, $50,767 after four years and $45,731 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,086 |
| 4 years | $50,767 |
| 5 years | $45,731 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to clinical/medical laboratory science is Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, with a median salary of $155,908.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Histotechnologists | $125,527 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science includes 13 concentrations that together award 22,462 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist (10,645), Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist (4,179) and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician (3,375). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,014,998 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
