Biological and Physical Sciences at City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College

Olive-Harvey College's Biological and Physical Sciences program delivers earnings slightly above state and national medians while keeping debt remarkably low—just $5,500 compared to a national median of $8,639. That puts graduates in the 95th percentile for low debt nationally, meaning only 5% of similar programs leave students owing less.

The $26,939 starting salary lands in the 60th percentile among Illinois programs, essentially matching what students earn at the state median. However, there's a significant gap compared to top Illinois community colleges: College of Lake County graduates earn $37,724, and several other programs push past $30,000. For context, Olive-Harvey serves a significant population of Pell grant recipients (31%), and the program may function primarily as a transfer pathway rather than direct workforce entry.

The real story here is affordability. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20, graduates owe less than three months' salary—one of the lowest burdens you'll find for any associate degree program. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year institution, this represents a cost-effective foundation. If they're entering the workforce immediately, understand that earnings start modestly, though the minimal debt means they won't be financially strained while building experience or pursuing further credentials.