History at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,981/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 10.7x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #276 of 389 History programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to History graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $466K $469K $445K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 10.7x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.4x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,944
Out-of-state: $106,076 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,952
-0% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,650
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,708
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,981/yr, roughly in line with the $32,281 national median for History. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,650 debt-to-$31,981 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #276 out of 389 programs, Rhode Island College's financial outcomes for History trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $31,981 to $41,708 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,630 in Providence, RI. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Rhode Island College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
History teachers, postsecondary $81,500/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

History at Other Schools

Other Majors at Rhode Island College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Rhode Island College's History program score?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for History. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is History to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' History careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →