Biological and Physical Sciences at Imperial Valley College

Imperial, CA · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 6,881 in Imperial, CA.

Program Analysis

At $23,311/yr, Biological and Physical Sciences graduates from Imperial Valley College land near the $26,356 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 173.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 28% task exposure — and the 40% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates.

Ranked #9 out of 43 programs, Imperial Valley College's Biological and Physical Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $23,311 to $49,513 over five years (112% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
57
Score
58
High End
Earnings $23,311/yr (-12% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Large (88,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$409K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
181.7x
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)
$2,252
Out-of-state: $15,980
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,513
112% growth from Year 1

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 Imperial Valley College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Biological and Physical Sciences at Imperial Valley College?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates.
Is Imperial Valley College one of the best schools for Biological and Physical Sciences?
Among 43 Biological and Physical Sciences programs, Imperial Valley College's #9 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What's the AI uncertainty for Biological and Physical Sciences careers?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Biological and Physical Sciences careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Is there demand for Biological and Physical Sciences workers?
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 →