Home › Southwestern Illinois College › Biological and Physical Sciences

Biological and Physical Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, IL · Public · Associate Degree

serving 5,280 students in Belleville, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,678/yr, edging above the $26,356 national average for Biological and 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 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 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 and 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 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

View all 43 schools offering Biological and Physical Sciences →

Biological and 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) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,290) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($57,296) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($46,355) Legal Support Services ($42,994) Precision Metal Working ($31,692) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($25,513) Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants ($22,351)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Biological and 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 and 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 and Physical Sciences field.
How affordable is Biological and 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 and 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.
Is there demand for Biological and Physical Sciences workers?
With approximately 88,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Biological and Physical Sciences offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →