Associate+2% vs national median509 grads tracked
Biological and Physical Sciences at Richland Community College
Ranked 20th of 58 associate programs in Biological and Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$28,578
middle 50%: $20,834 – $45,094
Median · 5 years out
$49,630
middle 50%: $36,056 – $66,014
Median · 10 years out
$61,917
middle 50%: $44,906 – $83,557
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 from Richland Community College earn a median first-year salary of $29k. Ten-year earnings reach a median of $62k.
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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,927 total interest
Same major at other universities
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
$51,537 · 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
Black Hawk College
$49,594 · 5 yrs out
Kishwaukee College
$49,537 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$49,371 · 5 yrs out
Sauk Valley Community College
$49,345 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Olney Central College
$49,095 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Peninsula Community College
$48,960 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Richland Community College
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$136,719 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$129,378 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$111,056 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$111,056 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,070 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,254 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$67,204 · 5 yrs out