Biological and Physical Sciences at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

Harold Washington College's biological and physical sciences associate's program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—outperforming 60% of Illinois programs with $27,451 in first-year earnings. That's a modest $900 above the state median, but still about $10,000 behind the state's top performers like College of Lake County. The relatively low debt of $8,750 keeps this financially manageable, with graduates owing just four months of earnings.

The real question is what comes next. Associate's degrees in these sciences typically serve as stepping stones to bachelor's programs or specific healthcare certifications. If your child plans to transfer to a four-year university, these earnings reflect students entering the workforce immediately after the associate's—not necessarily the trajectory for transfer students. The 35% Pell grant rate suggests the college successfully serves lower-income students who may need to work while continuing their education.

For a student committed to transferring into a four-year biology or chemistry program, this represents a cost-effective first two years in Chicago. For someone planning to stop at the associate's level, understand that $27,000 annually is below living wage in the Chicago metro area—you'd want clear plans for how this credential leads to better-paying positions or additional training.