Associate+6% vs national median532 grads tracked
Biological and Physical Sciences at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
Ranked 14th of 58 associate programs in Biological and Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$29,509
middle 50%: $21,382 – $38,623
Median · 5 years out
$51,537
middle 50%: $32,883 – $75,362
Median · 10 years out
$74,301
middle 50%: $58,032 – $106,801
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Biological and Physical Sciences (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn $30k initially. Salaries rise to $52k at five years and $74k at ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.3 yrs
≈ $10,359 total interest
Same major at other universities
William Rainey Harper College
$55,725 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$53,449 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$52,537 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$52,254 · 5 yrs out
Kaskaskia College
$52,031 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$51,991 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$51,353 · 5 yrs out
Heartland Community College
$51,252 · 5 yrs out
Blue Ridge Community College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln Land Community College
$50,300 · 5 yrs out
Rock Valley College
$50,243 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$49,630 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$104,211 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$104,211 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Associate)
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Social Work (Associate)
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$51,537 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$50,800 · 5 yrs out
Ground Transportation (Certificate)
$50,800 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$50,050 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$48,258 · 5 yrs out