Biological and Physical Sciences at William Rainey Harper College

Harper College's Biological and Physical Sciences program sits in an interesting middle ground—outearning 60% of similar Illinois programs, but trailing the state's top performers by a significant margin. First-year earnings of $27,081 lag behind schools like College of Lake County by nearly $11,000, though the manageable $8,250 debt load means graduates aren't burdened while building their careers.

The standout feature here is earnings trajectory. That 45% jump from year one to year four suggests this associate's degree is effectively positioning students for career advancement, whether through further education or workplace progression. At $39,337 four years out, graduates are pulling ahead of the typical associate's degree holder and approaching what many bachelor's programs deliver initially. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 remains comfortable even at the lower starting salary.

For families viewing this as a stepping stone—perhaps toward completing a bachelor's in sciences or entering technical fields—the math works reasonably well. You're paying less than the national average while achieving slightly above-average outcomes. However, if your student can commute to College of Lake County instead, the $10,000+ earnings premium from day one is worth serious consideration, especially since debt levels are similar across Illinois community colleges.