2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools in North Carolina

[Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools.
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2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical/medical laboratory science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Schools
Leading the list is Central Piedmont Community College, our #1 best value for clinical/medical laboratory science in North Carolina. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in clinical/medical laboratory science will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in clinical/medical laboratory science will find it at Cleveland Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $7,131. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $39,891. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in clinical/medical laboratory science will find it at Southeastern Community College Whiteville, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Whiteville, Southeastern Community College Whiteville is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,744. Students borrow a median of $10,188 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $65,328. That is a strong return on a $10,188 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. That is a strong return on a $17,900 median debt.
Montgomery Community College earned the #6 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Set in the rural area of Troy, Montgomery Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,538, while out-of-state students pay about $8,682. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from Montgomery Community College generally make around $38,983.
Davidson County Community College earned the #7 position for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Thomasville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,980, while out-of-state students pay about $6,588. Students borrow a median of $16,693 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates of Davidson County Community College earn a median of $35,625 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,693 median debt.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. Students from in state pay about $2,882 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Students borrow a median of $18,883 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $37,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #9 for value in clinical/medical laboratory science this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the clinical/medical laboratory science program here. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical laboratory science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $56,721. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Winston Salem State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,782. Clinical/medical Laboratory Science graduates carry a median of $25,361 in student loans. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $60,442. Set against $25,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Alamance Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical laboratory science schools. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,592, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical/medical laboratory science graduates is $6,625. Early-career clinical/medical laboratory science graduates make about $37,585. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.