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Political Science and Government at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,178/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #270 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $648K $630K $566K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.7x 14.3x 12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 5.9x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 46

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 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,952
-0% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,928
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,896
116% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,178 place Rhode Island College below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $17,928 represents roughly 7 months of the $29,178 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #270 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Rhode Island College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $62,896 show a 116% jump from the $29,178 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,630 students 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

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at Rhode Island College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,235) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($60,999) Computer Science ($60,361) Special Education and Teaching ($50,060) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($49,825) Accounting and Related Services ($48,921) Management Information Systems and Services ($47,857) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($44,789)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Rhode Island College?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $566,011 in decade earnings vs $648,001 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Rhode Island College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →