Best colleges for Biological and Physical Sciences in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
College of Lake County, Southwestern Illinois College and McHenry County College are the top Biological and Physical Sciences programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. College of Lake County leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,724, College Scorecard. William Rainey Harper College, Waubonsee Community College and Moraine Valley Community College award the most Biological and Physical Sciences degrees and certificates in Illinois: 413, 273 and 267 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 49 Illinois colleges offer Biological and Physical Sciences and award 4,443 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biological and Physical Sciences program offers a comprehensive exploration of the natural sciences, focusing on both life sciences and physical sciences. This interdisciplinary program is designed for students interested in…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public · Associate degree | $37,724 | 155 | 37% | — | $7,833 |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public · Associate degree | $29,678 | 118 | 36% | — | $6,196 |
| 3 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public · Associate degree | $28,614 | 167 | 37% | — | $7,500 |
| 4 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public · Associate degree | $27,320 | 89 | 44% | — | $8,315 |
| 5 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public · Associate degree | $27,081 | 413 | 48% | — | $8,250 |
| 6 | Parkland College Champaign Public · Associate degree | $26,547 | 115 | 32% | — | $8,628 |
| 7 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago Public · Associate degree | $26,130 | 135 | 31% | — | $5,583 |
| 8 | Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove Public · Associate degree | $24,939 | 273 | 39% | — | $8,067 |
| 9 | Rend Lake College Ina Public · Associate degree | $24,444 | 94 | 63% | — | — |
| 10 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Chicago Public · Associate degree | $24,111 | 70 | 32% | — | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Biological and Physical Sciences degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 413 | $27,081 |
| 2 | Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove Public | 273 | $24,939 |
| 3 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 267 | $23,128 |
| 4 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public | 187 | Not reported |
| 5 | Kishwaukee College Malta Public | 179 | $24,070 |
| 6 | Rock Valley College Rockford Public | 176 | $21,956 |
| 7 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 167 | $28,614 |
| 8 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 155 | $37,724 |
| 9 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago Public | 135 | $26,130 |
| 10 | Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby Public | 123 | $18,345 |
ShowHide the other 39 Illinois colleges offering Biological and Physical Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121).
Top skills
What Natural Sciences Managers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biological and Physical Sciences programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Biological and Physical Sciences degrees?+
William Rainey Harper College (413 graduates a year), Waubonsee Community College (273 graduates a year) and Moraine Valley Community College (267 graduates a year) award the most Biological and Physical Sciences degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 49 Illinois colleges offer Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the best college for Biological and Physical Sciences in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, College of Lake County leads among Biological and Physical Sciences programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,724, College Scorecard. Southwestern Illinois College and McHenry County College follow. By degrees awarded, William Rainey Harper College is the largest, with 413 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biological and Physical Sciences program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, College of Lake County tops the list at $37,724. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Natural Sciences Managers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Natural Sciences Managers in Illinois is $167,700 (median $159,670), across about 2,810 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biological and Physical Sciences program?+
The Biological and Physical Sciences program offers a comprehensive exploration of the natural sciences, focusing on both life sciences and physical sciences. This interdisciplinary program is designed for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 8,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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