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Clinical Diagnostics

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

You will study pathology, molecular diagnostics, and clinical chemistry. The major focuses heavily on using advanced technology and assays to detect diseases. Expect extensive laboratory work using microscopes, mass spectrometers, and genetic sequencing tools.

What you'll do after college

Graduates work in hospital laboratories, private diagnostic labs, and public health facilities as clinical laboratory technologists or diagnostic medical sonographers. The data they generate is vital for doctors to make accurate diagnoses.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$77,348
969
100–93%
$82,148
1,878
93–72%
$75,196
945
72–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$75,421
632
400–1060
$77,485
1,391
1060–1240
$85,626
668
1240–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$62,968p10 $92,997p90 STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 10–20% Rochester Institute of Technology · $95,918 Oregon Institute of Technology · $92,734 Friends University · $72,200 Cedar Crest College · $73,807 Carroll University · $62,962 Notre Dame of Maryland University · $79,408 St Catherine University · $82,595 York College of Pennsylvania · $81,405 University of the Northwest (Pacific University) · $70,781 Culver-Stockton College · $66,341 Briar Cliff University · $73,950 Purdue University · $70,477 Northern Illinois University · $67,229 University of Connecticut · $60,068 University of South Carolina · $74,659 University of New Mexico · $87,406 University of Central Missouri · $60,186 Fresno State · $57,609 Jacksonville State University · $75,255 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $83,657 McNeese State University · $62,201 Georgia Southern University · $75,583 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $84,381 University of Delaware · $70,373 Augusta University · $75,842 University of Vermont · $68,218 University of Michigan - Flint · $97,339 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse · $87,347 Henderson State University · $76,828 Indiana University · $74,968 East Tennessee State University · $67,544 University of New Hampshire · $80,536 Arkansas State University · $75,002 Oregon State University · $62,238 University of Iowa · $75,317 University at Buffalo · $76,668 Indiana University - Northwest · $76,321 Kent State University at Kent · $58,813 Ferris State University · $80,821 Wayne State University · $64,628 Boise State University · $91,749 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $82,723 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $92,995 Morehead State University · $88,133 Indiana University - Kokomo · $82,332 Colorado Mesa University · $78,177 Fort Hays State University · $66,428 Northern Kentucky University · $70,061 Rhode Island College · $83,563 Saint Cloud State University · $68,105 University of Akron · $54,073 Northwest Missouri State University · $67,695 Indiana University - South Bend · $74,841 Cal State Northridge · $97,231 University of Cincinnati · $92,997 Minot State University · $73,439 Oakland University · $72,730 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $62,968 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $72,775 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts · $58,970 Texas State University · $80,453 Old Dominion University · $79,397 University of Central Arkansas · $71,586 North Dakota State University · $73,553 Missouri State University - Springfield · $66,099 Virginia Commonwealth University · $77,676 Grand Valley State University · $72,595 Western Washington University · $71,083 Pennsylvania Western University · $66,454 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $82,971 University of South Alabama · $76,098 Northwestern State University of Louisiana · $81,158 Lewis-Clark State College · $78,737 Midwestern State University · $87,066 University of Southern Indiana · $77,352 Austin Peay State University · $69,625 Marshall University · $69,707 Bluefield State University · $72,159 Idaho State University · $57,828 University of Mississippi · $75,324 Arkansas Tech University · $68,498 Middle Georgia State University · $65,642 Utah Valley University · $79,947 Washburn University · $86,028 Weber State University · $78,258 Baylor University · $76,099 Quincy University · $72,695 Creighton University · $78,331 Manhattan University · $78,559 Washington Adventist University · $79,250 Midland University · $69,120 Avila University · $79,384 California Baptist University · $59,316 University of St Francis · $73,934 Concordia University Wisconsin · $77,441 Lewis University · $59,207 La Roche University · $75,590 Newman University · $74,893 Regis College · $83,664 Marian University · $79,942 Saint Louis University · $89,425 University of Holy Cross · $69,069 University of Dubuque · $66,051 Holy Family University · $95,707 University of Sioux Falls · $68,985 Molloy University · $100,096 University of Mary · $77,405 Immaculata University · $62,534 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $93,887 Seattle University · $95,756 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $63,267 University of Findlay · $78,120 St. John's University - New York · $124,316 Mount Marty University · $77,929 Misericordia University · $77,884 Gwynedd Mercy University · $94,133 Bellarmine University · $80,384 Belmont University · $73,330 Dallas Baptist University · $69,119 University of the Incarnate Word · $63,856 Wisconsin Lutheran College · $74,719 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne · $94,491 Howard University · $140,287 George Washington University · $123,076 Quinnipiac University · $78,227 University of Charleston · $70,751 Drexel University · $106,103 Suffolk University · $78,509 Manhattanville College · $73,859 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $80,363 Widener University · $79,351 MCPHS University · $88,945 Long Island University · $101,953 Robert Morris University · $75,739 Roosevelt University · $49,891 Nova Southeastern University · $71,822 University of Hartford · $81,149 Emory University · $86,626 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · $77,103 STEM, Business & Military: mean $94,326 Liberal Arts: mean $73,717 Public University: mean $74,659 Religious University: mean $78,592 Private University: mean $86,668 10–20%: mean $81,865 All colleges: p10 $62,968 All colleges: p90 $92,997
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Clinical Diagnostics 151 3,792 19% / 81% 1% $77,109 97%
Radiologic Technology 48 770 20% / 80% 1% $77,190 98%
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs 16 710 26% / 74% 1% $73,172 95%
Radiation Therapy 32 431 14% / 86% 1% $81,312 98%
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 8 338 17% / 83% 0% $77,682 99%
Diagnostic Medical Sonography 21 294 9% / 91% 1% $79,630 98%
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist 7 230 14% / 86% 1% $80,017 95%
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician 4 188 12% / 88% 1% $75,358 97%
Nuclear Medicine Technology 21 156 19% / 81% 5% $77,639 98%
Respiratory Therapy 7 118 25% / 75% 5% $70,765 97%
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions 3 79 38% / 62% 3% $85,328 98%
Radiologic Sciences 2 70 11% / 89% 0% $75,890 100%
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist 6 62 21% / 79% 3% $77,780 98%
Radiologic Science 2 58 14% / 86% 0% $68,802 97%
Medical Imaging 2 46 30% / 70% 0% $79,700 98%
MRI Technology 4 32 25% / 75% 0% $88,993 98%
Diagnostic Ultrasound 1 31 19% / 81% 0% $95,756 94%
Cardiovascular Technology 2 24 17% / 83% 8% $73,061 97%
Medical Sonography 1 19 5% / 95% 0% $71,822 95%
Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician 2 17 12% / 88% 0% $70,965 99%
Health/Medical Physics 5 15 40% / 60% 0% $68,397 96%
Cardiovascular Sonography 1 13 8% / 92% 0% $71,822 95%
Vision Science/Physiological Optics 2 12 33% / 67% 0% $71,840
Diagnostic Genetic Sciences 1 12 0% / 100% 0% $60,068 100%
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions 1 12 42% / 58% 33% $70,781
Diagnostic Imaging 1 11 0% / 100% 0% $78,227 100%
Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist 1 10 0% / 100% 0% $78,120 94%
Nuclear Medical Technology 5 9 44% / 56% 11% $75,462 97%
Radiation Biology/Radiobiology 1 9 22% / 78% 11% $78,509
Medical Radiation Sciences 1 6 50% / 50% 0% $68,218 97%
Neurodiagnostic Technology 2 5 20% / 80% 0% $66,016 94%
Medical Radiologic Technology 2 2 0% / 100% 0% $76,238 100%
Pre-Optometry Studies 2 2 50% / 50% 0% $105,096 98%
Electrocardiograph Technology 3 1 100% / 0% 0% $69,351 100%
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology 1 0 $79,684 95%
Polysomnography 1 0 $69,069 89%