Associate+3% vs national median781 grads tracked
Biological and Physical Sciences at Rock Valley College
Ranked 19th of 58 associate programs in Biological and Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$27,555
middle 50%: $19,927 – $38,403
Median · 5 years out
$50,243
middle 50%: $32,467 – $71,801
Median · 10 years out
$65,498
middle 50%: $46,986 – $90,972
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 majors at Rock Valley College start at $28k. Median earnings climb to $65k by year 10.
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
≈ $10,929 total interest
Same major at other universities
Waubonsee Community College
$51,991 · 5 yrs out
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
Richland Community College
$49,630 · 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
Other majors at Rock Valley College
Construction Trades (Associate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,260 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,961 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,489 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$69,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out