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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

$70,603
912
100–85%
$72,774
1,874
85–72%
$69,846
929
72–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$69,339
654
400–1060
$71,775
1,308
1060–1250
$72,915
635
1260–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$56,431p10 $85,829p90 Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Cedar Crest College · $67,538 St Catherine University · $82,707 Friends University · $67,742 Carroll University · $51,629 Notre Dame of Maryland University · $78,029 York College of Pennsylvania · $69,655 Pacific University · $69,742 Culver-Stockton College · $63,837 Briar Cliff University · $66,766 Northern Illinois University · $56,431 University of Connecticut · $59,688 University of South Carolina · $53,879 University of New Mexico · $89,111 Arkansas State University · $66,107 University of Central Missouri · $62,818 Fresno State · $42,770 Jacksonville State University · $75,257 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $71,841 McNeese State University · $54,087 Texas State University · $72,598 University at Buffalo · $66,773 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $71,337 Georgia Southern University · $67,196 Indiana University - Kokomo · $72,470 Indiana University - Northwest · $67,907 Indiana University - South Bend · $74,844 Marshall University · $63,007 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts · $51,388 Missouri State University - Springfield · $57,165 Morehead State University · $79,105 Northwest Missouri State University · $59,610 Oakland University · $64,720 Oregon Institute of Technology · $83,061 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $73,261 University of Central Arkansas · $56,087 University of Delaware · $62,256 University of Southern Indiana · $71,439 Virginia Commonwealth University · $70,933 Augusta University · $71,899 University of Vermont · $63,769 University of Michigan - Flint · $97,341 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse · $78,492 Henderson State University · $54,621 Oregon State University · $57,552 University of Mississippi · $69,832 Indiana University · $68,588 East Tennessee State University · $68,089 University of New Hampshire · $71,107 University of Iowa · $71,696 Kent State University at Kent · $62,004 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $66,970 Wayne State University · $65,809 Boise State University · $77,093 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $84,056 Colorado Mesa University · $50,023 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $59,515 Ferris State University · $69,529 Fort Hays State University · $52,703 Northern Kentucky University · $59,263 Rhode Island College · $65,915 Saint Cloud State University · $56,675 University of Akron · $61,279 University of Cincinnati · $81,506 Cal State Northridge · $94,979 Minot State University · $69,334 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $62,760 Old Dominion University · $65,269 North Dakota State University · $76,335 Grand Valley State University · $68,821 Western Washington University · $52,226 Pennsylvania Western University · $57,995 University of South Alabama · $69,383 Idaho State University · $60,138 Lewis-Clark State College · $71,209 Midwestern State University · $79,251 Austin Peay State University · $68,311 Bluefield State University · $72,163 Middle Georgia State University · $65,644 Utah Valley University · $65,697 Washburn University · $68,025 Weber State University · $71,636 Saint Louis University · $68,834 Baylor University · $68,792 Quincy University · $64,505 Creighton University · $78,331 Bellarmine University · $85,829 Manhattan College · $102,349 Washington Adventist University · $79,210 Concordia University Ann Arbor · $53,597 Midland University · $66,714 Mount Marty University · $62,321 Avila University · $67,482 California Baptist University · $59,316 Siena Heights University · $80,925 University of St Francis · $73,936 Concordia University Wisconsin · $55,084 Lewis University · $58,650 La Roche University · $59,245 Newman University · $74,893 Regis College · $81,833 Marian University · $60,139 University of Holy Cross · $73,463 University of Dubuque · $67,325 Holy Family University · $90,084 University of Sioux Falls · $67,697 Molloy College · $100,097 University of Mary · $73,820 Immaculata University · $49,499 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $93,439 Seattle University · $96,821 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $55,289 University of Findlay · $74,596 St. John's University - New York · $122,014 Misericordia University · $71,140 Gwynedd Mercy University · $75,748 Dallas Baptist University · $60,687 University of the Incarnate Word · $63,095 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne · $94,494 Howard University · $140,301 George Washington University · $123,088 Quinnipiac University · $83,099 University of Charleston · $69,557 Rochester Institute of Technology · $91,720 Long Island University · $101,375 MCPHS University · $76,881 Robert Morris University · $69,423 Suffolk University · $60,235 University of Hartford · $78,142 Drexel University · $83,020 Manhattanville College · $62,766 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $74,039 Widener University · $85,151 Roosevelt University · $64,428 Nova Southeastern University · $74,795 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · $73,846 Purdue University · $58,941 Emory University · $85,551 Female-only: mean $75,123 Liberal Arts: mean $66,771 Public University: mean $67,245 Religious University: mean $73,819 Private University: mean $83,626 Public University 1–15: mean $66,394 Private University 1–30: mean $85,551 All colleges: p10 $56,431 All colleges: p90 $85,829
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Clinical Diagnostics 153 3,814 19% / 81% 1% $71,487 97%
Radiologic Technology 50 780 20% / 80% 1% $70,002 98%
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs 16 710 26% / 74% 1% $67,438 96%
Radiation Therapy 33 431 14% / 86% 1% $76,225 98%
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 8 338 17% / 83% 0% $70,914 96%
Diagnostic Medical Sonography 22 305 8% / 92% 1% $74,238 99%
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist 7 230 14% / 86% 1% $74,265 95%
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician 4 188 12% / 88% 1% $69,611 97%
Nuclear Medicine Technology 21 156 19% / 81% 5% $73,678 98%
Respiratory Therapy 7 118 25% / 75% 5% $67,727 98%
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions 3 79 38% / 62% 3% $78,281 98%
Radiologic Sciences 2 70 11% / 89% 0% $79,717 96%
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist 6 62 21% / 79% 3% $70,722 98%
Radiologic Science 2 58 14% / 86% 0% $63,676 97%
Medical Imaging 2 46 30% / 70% 0% $72,533 98%
MRI Technology 4 32 25% / 75% 0% $76,480 98%
Diagnostic Ultrasound 1 31 19% / 81% 0% $96,821 100%
Cardiovascular Technology 2 24 17% / 83% 8% $60,168 98%
Medical Sonography 1 19 5% / 95% 0% $74,795 100%
Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician 2 17 12% / 88% 0% $84,056 95%
Health/Medical Physics 5 15 40% / 60% 0% $59,398 95%
Cardiovascular Sonography 1 13 8% / 92% 0% $74,795 100%
Vision Science/Physiological Optics 2 12 33% / 67% 0% $64,613
Diagnostic Genetic Sciences 1 12 0% / 100% 0% $59,688 100%
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions 1 12 42% / 58% 33% $69,742
Diagnostic Imaging 1 11 0% / 100% 0% $83,099 96%
Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist 1 10 0% / 100% 0% $74,596 100%
Nuclear Medical Technology 5 9 44% / 56% 11% $63,756 98%
Radiation Biology/Radiobiology 1 9 22% / 78% 11% $60,235
Medical Radiation Sciences 1 6 50% / 50% 0% $63,769 100%
Neurodiagnostic Technology 2 5 20% / 80% 0% $62,546 97%
Medical Radiologic Technology 3 2 0% / 100% 0% $80,444
Pre-Optometry Studies 2 2 50% / 50% 0% $79,984 98%
Electrocardiograph Technology 4 1 100% / 0% 0% $71,722
Polysomnography 2 1 100% / 0% 0% $73,463 100%