Best colleges for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois, Southwestern Illinois College and Elgin Community College award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in Illinois: 192, 136 and 67 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Illinois colleges offer Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions and award 1,121 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…
Top 4 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,629 | 29 | 65% | — | $25,470 |
| 2 | Midwestern Career College Chicago Private for-profit · Certificate | $33,466 | 43 | 54% | $12,455 | $9,750 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $70,654 | 16 | 49% | — | $23,750 |
| 4 | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago Public · Certificate | $26,947 | 96 | 18% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees in Illinois
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois Springfield Private for-profit | 192 | Not reported |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 136 | Not reported |
| 3 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public | 67 | Not reported |
| 4 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 5 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 6 | Midwestern Career College Chicago Private for-profit | 43 | $33,466 |
| 7 | Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 8 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 9 | Rush University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 34 | Not reported |
| 10 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 33 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 Illinois colleges offering Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Medical Equipment Preparers (SOC 31-9093).
Top skills
What Medical Equipment Preparers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees?+
Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois (192 graduates a year), Southwestern Illinois College (136 graduates a year) and Elgin Community College (67 graduates a year) award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Illinois colleges offer Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Which Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $65,629. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Medical Equipment Preparers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Medical Equipment Preparers in Illinois is $50,940 (median $48,050), across about 2,800 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).
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.
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