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Laboratory tester education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a laboratory tester. Laboratory testers usually study business, chemistry, or medical assisting services. 41% of laboratory testers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 259 real laboratory tester resumes to see exactly what laboratory tester education sections show.
The most common colleges for laboratory testers are the San Jose State University and the San Jose State University.
There are also many online laboratory tester courses to help get the education required to be a laboratory tester.
What education do you need to become a laboratory tester?
What degree do you need to be a laboratory tester?
- Bachelor's, 41%
- Associate, 21%
- High School Diploma, 20%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a laboratory tester?
Most common colleges for laboratory testers
| Laboratory tester common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| San Jose State University | 9.68% |
| University of Washington | 6.45% |
| Lamar University | 6.45% |
| Bainbridge State College | 6.45% |
| James Madison University | 6.45% |
Best majors for laboratory testers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 16.3% |
| 2 | Chemistry | 8.8% |
| 3 | Medical Assisting Services | 7.5% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | 7.5% |
| 5 | Biology | 6.3% |
Best colleges for laboratory testers
The best colleges for laboratory testers are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A laboratory tester with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for laboratory testers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become laboratory testers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
8. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
9. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
10. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
20 best online courses for laboratory testers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for laboratory testers
The most affordable schools for laboratory testers are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for laboratory testers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for laboratory testers.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for laboratory testers
The hardest universities for laboratory testers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for laboratory testers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for laboratory testers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for laboratory testers
The easiest schools for laboratory testers to get into are D'Youville College, oklahoma wesleyan university, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a laboratory tester without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for laboratory testers.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
8. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
10. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
Average laboratory tester salary by education level
| Laboratory tester education level | Laboratory tester salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,914 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,198 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,887 |
Laboratory tester education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025