California · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

Best colleges for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions in California

Ranked by graduate earnings

National University, Contra Costa Medical Career College and California State University - Dominguez Hills are the top Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs in California by graduate earnings. National University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,562, College Scorecard. Contra Costa Medical Career College, Escondido Adult School and Healthcare Career College award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in California: 289, 157 and 91 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 42 California colleges offer Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions and award 1,406 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions program prepares students for careers as licensed healthcare professionals who perform diagnostic testing on body fluids, such as blood and urine. This program is…

Institutions
42
offering CIP 51.10
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,406
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$40,382
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
7
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,509
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
59%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Medical Equipment Preparers
$65,100
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 7 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1National University
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$55,5625243%$31,817$38,486
2Contra Costa Medical Career College
Antioch Private for-profit · Certificate
$44,990289100%—$6,333
3California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,3746443%—$20,125
4Glendale Career College
Glendale Private for-profit · Certificate
$40,3823463%$46,675$8,971
5Premiere Career College
Irwindale Private for-profit · Certificate
$39,4592952%$25,597$6,286
6MTI College
Sacramento Private for-profit · Certificate
$36,2155077%$22,079$8,569
7Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos
San Marcos Private for-profit · Certificate Small program
$31,0711171%$31,880$3,167

Colleges awarding the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees in California

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Contra Costa Medical Career College
Antioch Private for-profit
289$44,990
2Escondido Adult School
Escondido Public
157Not reported
3Healthcare Career College
Paramount Private for-profit
91Not reported
4Vista Adult School
Vista Public
77Not reported
5California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson Public
64$44,374
6National University
San Diego Private not-for-profit
52$55,562
7MTI College
Sacramento Private for-profit
50$36,215
8Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo Public
49Not reported
9City College of San Francisco
San Francisco Public
45Not reported
10National Career Education
Citrus Heights Private for-profit
39Not reported
Show the other 32 California colleges offering Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Glendale Career CollegeGlendalePrivate for-profit34
De Anza CollegeCupertinoPublic32
Premiere Career CollegeIrwindalePrivate for-profit29
Saddleback CollegeMission ViejoPublic24
Butte County Regional Occupational ProgramChicoPublic24
Regan Career InstituteEl MontePrivate for-profit23
Loma Linda UniversityLoma LindaPrivate not-for-profit22
Universal Healthcare Careers CollegeLos AngelesPrivate for-profit22
Institute for Business and TechnologySan JosePrivate for-profit21
High Desert Medical CollegeLancasterPrivate for-profit21
College of the CanyonsSanta ClaritaPublic20
Palo Verde CollegeBlythePublic17
Central Coast CollegeSalinasPrivate for-profit17
Concorde Career College - Garden GroveGarden GrovePrivate for-profit16
San Diego Miramar CollegeSan DiegoPublic15
National Polytechnic CollegeLakewoodPrivate for-profit15
Cabrillo CollegeAptosPublic14
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnutPublic14
Long Beach City CollegeLong BeachPublic13
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied HealthLos AngelesPublic13
Folsom Lake CollegeFolsomPublic12
Merritt CollegeOaklandPublic11
Pima Medical Institute - San MarcosSan MarcosPrivate for-profit11
Rio Hondo CollegeWhittierPublic10
Grossmont CollegeEl CajonPublic8
La Sierra UniversityRiversidePrivate not-for-profit8
Southwestern CollegeChula VistaPublic7
University of California-DavisDavisPublic6
Concorde Career College - North HollywoodNorth HollywoodPrivate for-profit6
West Valley CollegeSaratogaPublic5
Hartnell CollegeSalinasPublic2
Agape College of Business and ScienceFresnoPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Medical Equipment Preparers (SOC 31-9093).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+10.0%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~10,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$46,490
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Critical ThinkingMonitoringActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive Learning

What Medical Equipment Preparers earn in California

Jobs in California
8,720
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$65,100
median $61,370
Best-paying metro
$84,800
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
$70,680 avg · 26,540 jobs
Phlebotomists
$56,600 avg · 13,520 jobs
Surgical Technologists
$82,810 avg · 11,920 jobs
Medical Equipment Preparers
$65,100 avg · 8,720 jobs
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
$54,790 avg · 1,630 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees?+

Contra Costa Medical Career College (289 graduates a year), Escondido Adult School (157 graduates a year) and Healthcare Career College (91 graduates a year) award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 42 California colleges offer Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.

What is the best college for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions in California?+

By graduate earnings, National University leads among Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,562, College Scorecard. Contra Costa Medical Career College and California State University - Dominguez Hills follow. By degrees awarded, Contra Costa Medical Career College is the largest, with 289 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, National University tops the list at $55,562. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Medical Equipment Preparers earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Medical Equipment Preparers in California is $65,100 (median $61,370), across about 8,720 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions program?+

The Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions program prepares students for careers as licensed healthcare professionals who perform diagnostic testing on body fluids, such as blood and urine. This program is…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, monitoring, active listening, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Medical Equipment Preparers?+

The national job outlook is about +10.0% growth with around 10,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions in other statesNew YorkAlaskaOregonDelawareMinnesotaMassachusettsMarylandUtah

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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