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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley delivers the state's most affordable Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science program at just $6,500 net cost, while Texas State University graduates earn the highest salaries at $59,873 annually. This dramatic cost-to-earnings variation reflects Texas's massive healthcare infrastructure, where laboratory professionals support operations at the world's largest medical complex in Houston and major health systems like MD Anderson. Public universities dominate the value equation, with eight of the top 10 most affordable options being state institutions. Graduation rates span from 19.90% to 87.60%, creating significant differences in program completion success across the 14 available programs.
14
Programs
$6,500 – $41,942
Net Price Range
$53,516
Avg. Program Earnings
52.7%
Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $6,500 $49,344 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
2 $10,726 $47,930 $9,744 45.9% 99.9%
3 $16,438 $59,873 $11,450 56.2% 87.7%
4 $20,261 $59,576 $7,878 51.2% 87.1%
5 $19,734 $50,856 $9,173 19.9% 96.8%
6 $41,942 $54,844 80.2% 45.9%
7 $15,137 $9,748 33.7% 88.0%
8 $23,790 $30,050 48.0% 67.7%
9 $14,352 $11,164 59.6% 79.1%
10 $23,636 $51,384 64.2% 85.1%
11 $20,581 $24,588 41.1% 53.6%
12 $15,235 $11,728 56.5% 80.8%
13 $19,678 $11,678 87.6% 31.4%
14 $10,948 $8,648 44.2% 93.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley such strong value for laboratory science students?

UTRGV offers the lowest net cost at $6,500 while maintaining an 87.70% acceptance rate and producing graduates who earn $49,344 annually. The program combines affordability with reasonable debt levels of $14,469, making it accessible to students seeking entry into Texas's growing healthcare sector.

How do private university costs compare to public options for laboratory science programs in Texas?

Private institutions like Baylor University cost $41,942 net compared to public averages around $15,000. However, Baylor achieves an 80.20% graduation rate, significantly higher than most public alternatives. Saint Edward's University at $23,636 net cost offers a middle ground with a 64.20% completion rate.

Is there a significant difference in graduate earnings between Texas laboratory science programs?

Texas State University graduates earn the highest at $59,873, while UT El Paso graduates start at $47,930, creating a $11,943 annual difference. Tarleton State University graduates earn $59,576, nearly matching Texas State despite much lower program costs at $20,261 net.

Where do laboratory science graduates find the best job opportunities in Texas?

Houston's Texas Medical Center provides the largest concentration of laboratory positions as the world's biggest medical complex. Major employers include HCA Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, which collectively create thousands of laboratory science positions throughout the state.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.