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Sociology at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,742/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)

ROI 11.6x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #138 of 414 Sociology programs Top 50%

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	$511K	$509K	$476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.6x	11.6x	10.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.8x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	43	41

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 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$43,952

-0% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,805

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,819

36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Rhode Island College's Sociology graduates start at $36,742/yr — above the $34,392 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 11.6x 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 — 42% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,805 in median debt clears quickly against $36,742 in annual earnings.

Ranked #138 out of 414 programs, Rhode Island College's Sociology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,742 to $49,819 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Rhode Island College

A 81% acceptance rate means Rhode Island College is accessible to most applicants, 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

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 Rhode Island College

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 Rhode Island College's Sociology program score?

This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Sociology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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 →