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Natural Resources Management and Policy at University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,445/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (310,400 openings/yr)

ROI 8.9x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 26 Natural Resources Management and Policy programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$595K	$586K	$536K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.1x	8.9x	8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.2x	4.1x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	56

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 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$79,596

-21% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,750

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$64,504

45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,445 per year, Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates from University of Rhode Island earn slightly above the $37,130 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

At 8.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $21,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #5 out of 26 programs, University of Rhode Island's Natural Resources Management and Policy program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,445 to $64,504 shows 45% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Rhode Island

With 77% of applicants admitted, University of Rhode Island prioritizes broad access, serving 13,822 students in Kingston, RI.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

Economists $115,440/yr

View all 19 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Natural Resources Management and Policy at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Rhode Island

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

How does University of Rhode Island's Natural Resources Management and Policy program score?

This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates.

How vulnerable is Natural Resources Management and Policy to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Natural Resources Management and Policy careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Rhode Island rank so high for Natural Resources Management and Policy?

The #5 ranking out of 26 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →