Biological and Physical Sciences at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

Chicago, IL · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 4,146 in Chicago, IL.

Program Analysis

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College's Biological and Physical Sciences program produces graduates earning $27,451/yr — within striking distance of the $26,356 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 32.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biological and Physical Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biological and Physical Sciences's career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $6,125 in median debt clears fast against $27,451 in annual earnings.

Ranked #30 of 43 Biological and Physical Sciences programs, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

44 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
43
Low End
44
Score
45
High End
Earnings $27,451/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Large (88,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$287K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
32.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
3 of 3
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$8,760
Out-of-state: $28,860
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,125
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Natural sciences managers $161,180 +3.7% 50%
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 +1.8% 100%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 -1.6% 67%
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
+3.7% growth 50% AI-proof
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490
+1.8% growth 100% AI-proof
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$64,580
-1.6% growth 67% AI-proof

About Biological and Physical Sciences Careers

Your career in the sciences likely begins in a classroom or a lab. As a secondary school teacher, you’ll spend your days guiding students through everything from frog dissections to chemical reactions, planning engaging lessons, and setting up lab equipment. Another path is postsecondary teaching, which involves more university-level lecturing, independent research, and mentoring future scientists.

Read the full Biological and Physical Sciences career guide →

Compare & Explore

Biological and Physical Sciences Overview

Biological and Physical Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Biological and Physical Sciences at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biological and Physical Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
What's the typical debt for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates from City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
At $6,125 in median debt, Biological and Physical Sciences graduates from City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
How many job openings are there for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
The career paths mapped to Biological and Physical Sciences have roughly 88,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →