Fine and Studio Arts at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,241/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #150 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Fine and Studio Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $481K $482K $453K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 11.0x 10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.5x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 32 28

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 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,952
-0% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,750
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,389
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,241 at Rhode Island College come in 11% above the national median of $25,391 for Fine and Studio Arts programs.

The 11.0x 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 — 36% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,750 debt-to-$28,241 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #150 out of 385 programs, Rhode Island College's Fine and Studio Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $28,241 to $42,389 over five years (50% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 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

Art directors $111,040/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
View all 12 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Rhode Island College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Rhode Island College's Fine and Studio Arts program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Fine and Studio Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →