Political Science at Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,178/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
14.3x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $648K | $630K | $566K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.7x | 14.3x | 12.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.1x | 5.9x | 5.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 48 | 47 | 46 |
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 (5.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,928
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,896
116% growth from Year 1
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
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at Rhode Island College
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Rhode Island College?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $566,011 in decade earnings vs $648,001 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from Rhode Island College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →