2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools in Illinois
[Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong clinical/medical laboratory science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical/medical laboratory science students.
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2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical/medical laboratory science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for value among clinical/medical laboratory science schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical/medical laboratory science, landing the #2 spot this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $12,272 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $26,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Triton College earned it the #4 place for clinical/medical laboratory science. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,994 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richland Community College earned the #6 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,680, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,233 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College earned the #7 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College earned the #8 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,504, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,939 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $39,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College earned the #9 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,985, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $7,750. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage placed #10 among the best values for clinical/medical laboratory science. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
College Of Lake County landed the #11 spot for clinical/medical laboratory science value this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $10,388. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Rock Valley College placed #13 among the best values for clinical/medical laboratory science. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Parkland College placed #14 among the best values for clinical/medical laboratory science. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,284, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $40,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Heartland Community College placed #15 among the best values for clinical/medical laboratory science. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $13,110. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $48,710. Set against $13,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Illinois University earned the #16 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $70,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Midwestern Career College earned the #17 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Midwestern Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Midwestern Career College earn a median of $33,466 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Illinois State University landed the #18 spot for clinical/medical laboratory science value this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $25,470 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $65,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Il ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Il is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $9,710. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $27,419. Set against $9,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
