Medical Laboratory Science · Illinois

Medical Laboratory Science colleges in Illinois

CampusPin lists 131 U.S. colleges in Illinois that offer Medical Laboratory Science programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Medical Laboratory Science trains you to perform and interpret the diagnostic tests doctors rely on, a detail-focused, hands-on science career behind the scenes of patient care.

Schools in Illinois that offer Medical Laboratory Science

Medical Laboratory Science programs in Illinois: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 131 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

131

Public / private

23 / 27

Universities / 2-year

28 / 22

Cities represented

32

In-state tuition range

$3,180–$55,704

Median in-state tuition

$17,339

Lowest published in-state tuition

Elgin Community College

$3,180

Most selective

Chicago State University

41% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

DeVry University-Illinois

29,175 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Medical Laboratory Science program

  • Hematology and coagulation testing
  • Clinical chemistry and instrumentation
  • Clinical microbiology and culture identification
  • Immunology and serology
  • Immunohematology, blood banking, and transfusion compatibility
  • Molecular diagnostics and laboratory informatics
  • Quality assurance, quality control, and laboratory safety
  • Supervised clinical practicum across hospital lab departments
  • Lab management, regulatory standards, and result reporting

Where a Medical Laboratory Science degree can lead

  • Medical Laboratory Scientist
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologist
  • Microbiology Technologist
  • Blood Bank Technologist
  • Molecular Diagnostics Technologist
  • Laboratory Supervisor

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians median $61,890).

Medical Laboratory Science is the study of how blood, tissue, and other body samples are analyzed to detect disease, guide treatment, and confirm diagnoses. Students learn to perform and troubleshoot the tests that physicians order, working across hematology (blood cells and clotting), clinical chemistry (glucose, enzymes, and other blood markers), microbiology (identifying bacteria, fungi, and parasites), immunology and molecular methods (including viral detection), and immunohematology (blood typing and transfusion compatibility). Beyond running instruments, you study why a result looks the way it does, how a value connects to a patient's physiology, and how quality-control checks keep results trustworthy. Coursework also covers laboratory safety, data reporting, and the regulations and professional standards that govern a working clinical lab.

This is typically a bachelor's degree, and it is the science behind the bench rather than the bedside, distinct from nursing or pre-med tracks that center on direct patient treatment. Most programs build toward a supervised clinical practicum, where students rotate through hospital laboratory departments and handle real specimens under licensed scientists before graduating. Employers often expect a national certification exam, and some states require licensure to practice, so prospective students should verify the specific programmatic accreditation and state-licensure requirements that apply to them. Graduates work in hospital and reference laboratories, blood banks and transfusion services, public-health and microbiology labs, molecular diagnostics and pathology settings, and biotechnology or research organizations, often advancing into supervisory or specialty roles such as blood-bank or molecular-diagnostics technologist.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $61,890 and projects employment to grow about 1.7% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Medical Laboratory Science in other states

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Find more Medical Laboratory Science schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 131+ Medical Laboratory Science programs in Illinois by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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