Accountingat Rhode Island College
Graduates earn $48,921/yr in their first year — about 9.0% below the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $633K; scenarios range from $564K to $657K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rhode Island College
Graduates earn $48,921/yr, roughly in line with the $53,724 national median for Accounting. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Accounting's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $48,921 far exceeding the $15,783 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #279 of 714 Accounting programs, Rhode Island College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $48,921 to $66,478 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Rhode Island College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Accounting
How Rhode Island College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Rhode Island College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rhode Island College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Accounting offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Accounting at Rhode Island College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at Rhode Island College?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Accounting careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $564,234 in decade earnings vs $656,623 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.