Best colleges for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
South Dakota State University, Western Dakota Technical College and Southeast Technical College award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 36, 19 and 15 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 South Dakota colleges offer Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions and award 94 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 3 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 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,255 | 36 | 62% | — | $31,000 |
| 2 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public · Associate degree Small program | $47,512 | 11 | 73% | — | — |
| 3 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City Public · Associate degree Small program | $46,378 | 19 | 54% | — | $11,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees in South Dakota
Top 6 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 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public | 36 | $69,255 |
| 2 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City Public | 19 | $46,378 |
| 3 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 4 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public | 11 | $47,512 |
| 5 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public | 3 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Medical Equipment Preparers (SOC 31-9093).
Top skills
What Medical Equipment Preparers earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees?+
South Dakota State University (36 graduates a year), Western Dakota Technical College (19 graduates a year) and Southeast Technical College (15 graduates a year) award the most Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 South Dakota colleges offer Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Which Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, South Dakota State University tops the list at $69,255. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Medical Equipment Preparers earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Medical Equipment Preparers in South Dakota is $42,990 (median $42,330), across about 480 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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