Biological and Physical Sciences at Lewis and Clark Community College

Lewis and Clark Community College's biological and physical sciences associate's program shows an unusually strong earnings trajectory that sets it apart from typical two-year science degrees. While first-year graduates earn $27,320—slightly above both the national and Illinois medians—those numbers jump 37% to $37,432 by year four. That final figure actually exceeds the top-earning comparable program in Illinois at College of Lake County, suggesting graduates are either transferring successfully to bachelor's programs or finding solid technical positions that value with experience.

The debt load of $8,315 is manageable, translating to roughly 30 cents of debt for every dollar earned in that first year. This is lower than the state median and gives graduates breathing room while they build their careers or continue their education. The moderate sample size means these patterns should hold fairly stable year to year.

For parents weighing this option, the key question is what comes next. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year school to complete a bachelor's in biology, chemistry, or a health science, this program provides solid foundational coursework without excessive debt. If they're planning to enter the workforce directly after two years, understand that the initial $27,320 salary requires patience—the real payoff emerges in years two through four as skills and experience accumulate.