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Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California

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2023 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

19 Colleges
$1,342 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Finding the Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate School for You

In 2020-2021, 331 degrees and certificates were awarded to clinical/medical laboratory science students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #17 most popular major in the state.

Today's healthcare students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 19 schools in California to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for clinical laboratory science students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top 10 Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools

#1

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Our analysis found Cuesta College to be the best value school for clinical/medical laboratory science students who want to pursue a basic certificate in California. Cuesta College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cuesta College are $1,338 per year.

Cuesta College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list.

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#2

Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA

Out of the 19 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Cabrillo College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Cabrillo College are $1,262 a year.

Cabrillo College also claimed a spot on our Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

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#3

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bakersfield College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a public college with a very large student population.

Bakersfield College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,430 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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#4

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rio Hondo College is a great value for clinical/medical laboratory science students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Whittier, RHCCD is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at RHCCD are $1,360 a year.

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#5

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Saddleback College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saddleback College are $1,332 per year.

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#6

Grossmont College

El Cajon, CA

Grossmont College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a public college with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Grossmont College are $1,332 a year.

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Butte County Regional Occupational Program ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Chico, Butte County ROP is a public college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science at Butte County Regional Occupational Program

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#7

Central Coast College

Salinas, CA

With a ranking of #7, Central Coast College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for clinical/medical laboratory science students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Salinas, Central Coast College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of San-Marcos, PMI San Marcos is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science at Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos

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#7

National Career Education

Citrus Heights, CA

National Career Education ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Citrus Heights, National Career Education is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science at National Career Education Report

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Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Oregon 74
Washington 53
Nevada 18
Hawaii 11
Alaska 10

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.

Clinical Laboratory Science Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist 7,599
Laboratory Technician 4,185
Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology 3,912
Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 1,108
Other Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions 982
Blood Bank Technology Specialist 280
Histologic Technician 243
Renal/Dialysis Technologist/Technician 220
Histologic Technology/Histotechnologist 106
Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist 101
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 78
Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology/Technologist 46
Hematology Technology 41

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 19 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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