Biological and Physical Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College

Southwestern Illinois College's biological and physical sciences associate's program shows unusually strong earnings growth, with graduates seeing their income jump 45% from $29,678 in year one to $42,959 by year four. That first-year figure already beats most Illinois programs in this field (ranking at the 60th percentile statewide), and the four-year trajectory suggests graduates are successfully using this degree as intended—either as a stepping stone to bachelor's programs or into lab technician and related roles that reward experience.

The financial picture is remarkably accessible: $6,196 in median debt represents just one-fifth of first-year earnings and roughly half what graduates typically carry at Illinois schools offering this program. Among similar programs nationwide, this ranks in the 90th percentile for low debt—meaning only 10% of comparable programs leave students with less to repay. For families worried about community college costs spiraling, this program demonstrates the affordability advantage these institutions can offer.

The caveat worth noting is the small sample size, which means a few outlier graduates could be skewing these numbers higher than typical. But even accounting for that uncertainty, the combination of below-average debt, above-average starting earnings, and strong four-year growth makes this program a sensible choice for students planning to continue their education in STEM fields or enter technical careers directly.