Program Analysis
At $70,939/yr, Ocean Engineering graduates from University of Rhode Island land near the $69,785 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 11.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Ocean Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $26,294 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ocean Engineering is offered at just 4 schools in our analysis. University of Rhode Island's #3 ranking should be read in that context.
A 22% earnings increase from $70,939 to $86,529 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.