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American Sign Language at Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,969/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (88,500 openings/yr)

ROI 2.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #18 of 19 American Sign Language programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to American Sign Language graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$515K	$513K	$478K
Earnings Multiple	2.3x	2.3x	2.1x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	40%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	23	23	19

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$228,064

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$118,776

48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,584

9.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,145

54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,969/yr, American Sign Language graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology land near the $32,891 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 2.3x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,584 debt-to-$31,969 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #18 out of 19 programs, Rochester Institute of Technology's financial outcomes for American Sign Language trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,969 to $49,145 over five years (54% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Rochester Institute of Technology

With 71% of applicants admitted, Rochester Institute of Technology prioritizes broad access, serving 13,225 students in Rochester, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $118,776 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Rochester Institute of Technology →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

American Sign Language at Other Schools

Other Majors at Rochester Institute of Technology

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 Rochester Institute of Technology's American Sign Language program score?

This program scores 23/100 — on the lower end for American Sign Language. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is American Sign Language to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' American Sign Language 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 →