CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Dekalb, Illinois

Is Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at Northern Illinois University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2.1 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$77,874
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$82,553
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$19,344
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$62k (likely $62k – $85k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$44k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in IL
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
2.1 years (likely 1.6–3.1)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
$183k (likely $54k – $319k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$655k (likely $400k – $929k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
48%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at other schools

🩺 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward health & medicine majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

  • Biology HL
  • Chemistry HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions at other schools in Illinois