Sociology at University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,554/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #37 of 414 Sociology programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $586K $577K $529K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.8x 8.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 47

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 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,596
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,936
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,554 at University of Rhode Island come in 24% above the national median of $34,392 for Sociology programs.

At 8.8x 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 $23,250 debt-to-$42,554 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #37 ranking out of 414 Sociology programs nationally puts University of Rhode Island in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,554 to $62,936 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 13,822 in Kingston, RI.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Sociology at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Rhode Island

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Rhode Island's Sociology program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sociology graduates.
How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Sociology 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →