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Chemistry at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,648/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)

ROI 19.7x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$890K	$866K	$733K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.2x	19.7x	16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.4x	8.2x	6.9x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	70	67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,944

Out-of-state: $106,076 (8.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$43,952

-0% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,250

3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$94,239

111% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,648 per year, Chemistry graduates from Rhode Island College earn slightly above the $41,256 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 19.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $14,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #5 out of 205 programs, Rhode Island College's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $44,648 to $94,239 over five years (111% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Rhode Island College

With 81% of applicants admitted, Rhode Island College prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 4,630 students in Providence, RI. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Rhode Island College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr

Data scientists $112,590/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Chemistry at Other Schools

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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 Rhode Island College's Chemistry program score?

A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Rhode Island College's Chemistry graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Chemistry to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Chemistry careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Rhode Island College rank so high for Chemistry?

The #5 ranking out of 205 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 →