2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools in Tennessee
[Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools.
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2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical/medical laboratory science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools
Our analysis ranked Columbia State Community College the best value for a degree in clinical/medical laboratory science in Tennessee. Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $4,948, compared with $17,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Columbia State Community College earn a median of $48,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwest Tennessee Community College earned it the #2 place for clinical/medical laboratory science. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,766 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $11,406. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Southwest Tennessee Community College earn a median of $43,592 early in their careers. Set against $11,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical/medical laboratory science, landing the #3 spot this year. Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Blountville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,782, with out-of-state students paying around $17,766. Students borrow a median of $6,404 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $39,673. Set against $6,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in clinical/medical laboratory science will find it at Volunteer State Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,756, while out-of-state students pay about $17,740. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro one of the best values for clinical/medical laboratory science. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a small public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $10,723 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro earn a median of $37,744 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Peay State University placed #6 among the best values for clinical/medical laboratory science. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,810 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $70,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,810 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton earned the #7 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton is a small public school located in the suburb of Elizabethton. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $9,281. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $29,309. Set against $9,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. South College is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,535. Students borrow a median of $24,487 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of South College earn a median of $30,446 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,487 median debt.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #9 for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,938. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $64,307. That is a strong return on a $20,693 median debt. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
Concorde Career College Memphis came in at #10 for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Concorde Career College Memphis is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $20,306. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $38,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Fortis Institute Nashville came in at #11 for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Fortis Institute Nashville is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $15,627 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $35,304. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $40,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
