Biological and Physical Sciences at American River College

American River College's Biological and Physical Sciences program punches above its weight, with graduates earning $29,022 within a year—ahead of 75% of similar programs nationally and 60% in California. That's roughly $3,000 more than the typical California associate's degree holder in this field earns. The 35% earnings jump to $39,275 by year four suggests graduates are either climbing into better positions or continuing their education successfully, which is the intended path for most science associate's degrees.

The $14,400 debt load sits higher than both state and national medians, but context matters here: it's still half of first-year earnings, a ratio that's easily manageable. More importantly, that debt buys access to a program performing in the top quarter nationally. Students at comparable California community colleges like Shasta or Modesto earn more initially, but American River's trajectory looks solid for a transfer-focused program.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's experience could vary significantly. For students planning to transfer to a four-year university (the typical path for this degree), American River appears to provide strong preparation at a reasonable cost. For those entering the workforce directly with just the associate's, the earnings are respectable but modest—understand this is primarily a stepping stone credential.