by our College Data Analytics Team
[Clinical Medical Lab Science](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their clinical medical lab science graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send clinical medical lab science graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Nashville State Community College, our #1 for clinical medical lab science graduate salaries in Tennessee. Nashville State Community College is a public school located in the city of Nashville. Clinical Medical Lab Science graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of about $37,468 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Austin Peay State University earned it the #2 place for clinical medical lab science. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a public institution. Students who complete the clinical medical lab science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,418.
Students chasing top earnings in clinical medical lab science will find them at Columbia State Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the clinical medical lab science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,168.
Lincoln Memorial University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in clinical medical lab science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the clinical medical lab science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,844.
Strong graduate earnings at Fortis Institute Cookeville earned it the #5 place for clinical medical lab science. Set in the town of Cookeville, Fortis Institute Cookeville is a private for-profit institution. Clinical Medical Lab Science graduates of Fortis Institute Cookeville earn a median of about $43,920 a year early in their careers.
Fortis Institute Nashville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying clinical medical lab science schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Fortis Institute Nashville is a private for-profit institution. Clinical Medical Lab Science graduates of Fortis Institute Nashville earn a median of about $39,334 a year early in their careers.
Jackson State Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying clinical medical lab science schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Jackson State Community College is a public institution. After graduating, clinical medical lab science degree recipients from Jackson State Community College typically earn about $37,865 annually.
South College came in at #8 for clinical medical lab science graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the clinical medical lab science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,446.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their clinical medical lab science graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.