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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Biological & Physical Science in the Great Lakes Region

29 Ranked Colleges
4,948 Degrees Awarded
$5,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 29,162 people earned their degree in biological and physical science, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, biological and physical science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,647 and had an average of $18,790 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,150 biological and physical science graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,530 and $10,086 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 4,948 biological and physical science graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 29 colleges that offer a degree in biological and physical science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent biological and physical science programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the biological and physical science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Biological & Physical Science in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. ECC is located in Elgin, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 167 associates’s biological science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree biological science students list, ECC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,185 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students per year to attend ECC.

Full ECC Biological & Physical Science Report

#2

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwestern Illinois College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized public school situated in Belleville, Illinois. It awarded 138 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

SWIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SWIC is $7,098 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Full SWIC Biological & Physical Science Report

#3

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Palos Hills, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 473 diplomas to qualified associates’s biological science students in 2019-2020.

MVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,422 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students per year to attend MVCC.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at Moraine Valley Community College

#4

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Waubonsee Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Waubonsee is a medium-sized school located in Sugar Grove, Illinois that handed out 249 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Waubonsee not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Waubonsee is $5,130 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at Waubonsee

#5

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Triton College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Triton College is located in River Grove, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 217 associates’s biological science degrees to qualified students.

Triton College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,988 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students per year to attend Triton College.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Triton College

#6

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Black Hawk College is a small public school situated in Moline, Illinois. It awarded 59 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

BHC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Black Hawk College is $5,706 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at BHC

#7

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

Joliet Junior College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 148 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Joliet Junior College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Full Joliet Junior College Biological & Physical Science Report

#8

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois

William Rainey Harper College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Palatine, Illinois, and it awarded 379 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Harper College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harper College is $7,532 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Harper College

Illinois Valley Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Oglesby, Illinois, this small public school handed out 140 degrees to qualified associates’s biological science students in 2019-2020.

IVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IVCC is $6,378 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at IVCC

City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 194 associates’s biological science degrees to qualified students.

Harold Washington College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,992 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Biological & Physical Science Report

#11

Highland Community College

Freeport, Illinois

Highland Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Highland Community College is a small school located in Freeport, Illinois that handed out 54 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Highland Community College also made our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Highland Community College is $6,637 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Full Highland Community College Biological & Physical Science Report

Lewis and Clark Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Godfrey, Illinois, this small public school awarded 158 degrees to qualified associates’s biological science students in 2019-2020.

Lewis and Clark Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lewis and Clark Community College is $5,464 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Lewis and Clark Community College

#13

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Lincoln Land Community College is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 associates’s biological science degrees to qualified students.

LLCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,168 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students per year to attend Lincoln Land Community College.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Lincoln Land Community College

#13

Kishwaukee College

Malta, Illinois

Kishwaukee College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kishwaukee College is a public institution located in Malta, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 173 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree biological science students list, Kishwaukee College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,782 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students per year to attend Kishwaukee College.

Full Kishwaukee College Biological & Physical Science Report

#15

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. South Suburban College is a small public school situated in South Holland, Illinois. It awarded 38 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

SSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SSC is $4,746 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at South Suburban College

With a ranking of #16, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Wilbur Wright College is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 220 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Wilbur Wright College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wilbur Wright College is $2,876 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College

#17

Rock Valley College

Rockford, Illinois

Rock Valley College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rock Valley College is a medium-sized school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 173 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Rock Valley College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rock Valley College is $7,399 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Rock Valley College

#18

McHenry County College

Crystal Lake, Illinois

McHenry County College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. McHenry County College is a medium-sized school located in Crystal Lake, Illinois that handed out 134 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

MCC also made our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend McHenry County College is $7,048 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at McHenry County College

#18

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

College of Lake County came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 155 associates’s biological science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree biological science students list, College of Lake County has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,735 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at College of Lake County

#20

John Wood Community College

Quincy, Illinois

John Wood Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. John Wood Community College is located in Quincy, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 associates’s biological science degrees to qualified students.

John Wood Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for John Wood Community College is $7,095 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at John Wood Community College

#21

Parkland College

Champaign, Illinois

Parkland College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Parkland College is a medium-sized school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 156 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Parkland College also made our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $8,993 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students per year to attend Parkland College.

Full Parkland College Biological & Physical Science Report

#22

Rend Lake College

Ina, Illinois

Rend Lake College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Rend Lake College is a public institution located in Ina, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 144 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,636 for great lakes region associate degree biological science students per year to attend Rend Lake College.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Rend Lake College

Sauk Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Sauk Valley Community College is a small school located in Dixon, Illinois that handed out 42 associates’s biological science degrees in 2019-2020.

Sauk Valley Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sauk Valley Community College is $7,628 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students.

Full Sauk Valley Community College Biological & Physical Science Report

#24

Richland Community College

Decatur, Illinois

Richland Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Decatur, Illinois, this small public school handed out 49 degrees to qualified associates’s biological science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree biological science students list, Richland Community College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Richland Community College is $4,794 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at Richland Community College

#25

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois

Morton College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Science Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cicero, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s biological science degrees to 99 students in 2019-2020.

Morton College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Biological & Physical Science Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,236 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Biological Science students per year to attend Morton College.

Read more about Biological & Physical Science at Morton College

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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