Biological and Physical Sciences at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College

Richard J. Daley College graduates earn more than 95% of associate's degree holders in biological and physical sciences nationwide—a remarkable outcome for a community college program. That $33,115 first-year salary outpaces the national median by nearly $7,000 and keeps debt manageable at $8,250, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25.

Within Illinois, the picture is more competitive but still solid. Daley ranks in the 60th percentile statewide, trailing programs like College of Lake County and Joliet Junior College but matching the state's median debt while delivering above-average earnings. For context, this is a Chicago-based City Colleges program performing comparably to suburban alternatives, which matters for students considering location and accessibility.

The fundamentals here work strongly in students' favor: you're looking at debt that represents roughly three months of earnings, which is about as clean an investment profile as you'll find in two-year science programs. While some Illinois programs push earnings higher, Daley's combination of accessibility (evidenced by low Pell grant percentage relative to typical community colleges), strong national standing, and manageable debt makes it a straightforward choice for students beginning their science education in Chicago.