Biological and Physical Sciences at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

J Sargeant Reynolds' Biological and Physical Sciences associate degree starts with earnings well below what most programs deliver, though there's a silver lining in how quickly graduates catch up. That initial $23,059 is roughly $3,500 below both state and national medians—ranking in just the 24th percentile nationally. Within Virginia's community college system, it sits near the middle, but still significantly trails programs like Laurel Ridge ($37,850) and Tidewater ($30,605).

The redeeming factor here is earnings trajectory: graduates see 61% income growth by year four, climbing to $37,193. That's a meaningful jump that suggests many students use this degree as a stepping stone—likely transferring to four-year programs or moving into better-paying technical roles. The debt load of $10,948 is reasonable and manageable relative to those year-four earnings, though the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means the first year or two after graduation will feel tight financially.

For families viewing this as a transfer degree into a bachelor's program, the numbers make sense—the debt is controllable and you're not overpaying for prerequisites. But if the plan is to enter the workforce directly with an associate degree, understand that other Virginia community colleges are placing graduates into jobs that pay $5,000-15,000 more right out of the gate. That initial earning period matters, especially for students who need immediate income.