Biological and Physical Sciences at Virginia Peninsula Community College

Hampton, VA · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 3,901 in Hampton, VA.

Program Analysis

At $25,468/yr, Biological and Physical Sciences graduates from Virginia Peninsula Community College land near the $26,356 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 43.1x 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.

The median debt load of $9,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #29 of 43 Biological and Physical Sciences programs, Virginia Peninsula Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $42,149 show a 65% jump from the $25,468 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

45 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
45
Score
47
High End
Earnings $25,468/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Large (88,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$447K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
45.2x
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)
$9,888
Out-of-state: $21,894
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,250
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,149
65% 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 Virginia Peninsula Community 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

How does Virginia Peninsula Community College's Biological and Physical Sciences program score?
At 45/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Biological and Physical Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How could AI change the job market for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
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 →