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2026 Best Value Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology Schools in Illinois

[Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/laboratory-sciences-medical-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value laboratory sciences & medical technology schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology Schools in Illinois

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the laboratory sciences & medical technology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology Schools

1

Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL

$13,060 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,750 Avg Student Debt

$57,808 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in laboratory sciences & medical technology, no school beat Northern Illinois University this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the laboratory sciences & medical technology program here. Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $70,654 early in their careers. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.

2

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

$14,410 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,470 Avg Student Debt

$62,117 Median Earnings (10yr)

Illinois State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laboratory sciences & medical technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $25,470 to complete the laboratory sciences & medical technology program here. Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $65,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

View All Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.