Journalism at University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
35
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,875/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 7.7x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #77 of 178 Journalism programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $510K $507K $472K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.8x 7.7x 7.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.5x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 35 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,632
Out-of-state: $143,216 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,596
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,949
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,716
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,875 at University of Rhode Island come in 10% above the national median of $34,417 for Journalism programs.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Journalism's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,949 represents roughly 9 months of the $37,875 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #77 of 178 Journalism programs, University of Rhode Island scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $37,875 to $49,716 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 13,822 students in Kingston, RI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Rhode Island →

Top Career Paths

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Journalism at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at University of Rhode Island?
A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Journalism. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Journalism careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $471,567 in decade earnings vs $509,534 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →