Home › Southwestern Illinois College › Biological & Physical Sciences

Biological & Physical Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Biological and Physical Sciences

serving 5,280 students in Belleville, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,678/yr, edging above the $26,356 national average for Biological & Physical Sciences — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 63.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biological & Physical Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biological & Physical Sciences's career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 40% gap from the optimistic case.

At $4,500 in median debt against $29,678 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #15 of 43 Biological & Physical Sciences programs, Southwestern Illinois College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $46,430 show a 56% jump from the $29,678 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

53 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
53
Score
55
High End
Earnings $29,678/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Large (88,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$517K
11.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
66.8x
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)
$7,740
Out-of-state: $12,420
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,500
1.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,430
56% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Biological & 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

Biological & Physical Sciences Career Guide

What can you do with a Biological & Physical Sciences credential from Southwestern Illinois College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Biological & Physical Sciences career guide →

Compare & Explore

Biological & Physical Sciences Overview

View all 43 schools offering Biological & Physical Sciences →

Biological & Physical Sciences at Other Schools

Laurel Ridge Community College ($37,850) College of Lake County ($37,724) Riverside City College ($33,201) City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College ($33,115) Modesto Junior College ($31,960) Shasta College ($31,415) Tidewater Community College ($30,605) Joliet Junior College ($30,509)

Other Majors at Southwestern Illinois College

Fire Protection ($77,935) Nursing ($65,290) Allied Health Professions ($57,296) IT Management ($46,355) Legal Support Services ($42,994) Precision Metalworking ($31,692) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($25,513) Practical Nursing ($22,351)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Biological & Physical Sciences degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 53/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Biological & Physical Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biological & Physical Sciences field.
How affordable is Biological & Physical Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College?
Median debt of just $4,500 against $29,678/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
How sensitive is Biological & Physical Sciences to AI disruption?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
How many job openings are there for Biological & Physical Sciences graduates?
At 88,200 annual openings, Biological & Physical Sciences has a large employment base. Southwestern Illinois College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →