Special Education and Teaching at Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
55
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,060/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI
12.7x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Special Education and Teaching graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $564K | $558K | $525K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.8x | 12.7x | 12.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.3x | 5.3x | 5.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 81% | 73% | 58% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 57 | 55 | 57 |
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 (5.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,781
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,951
14% growth from Year 1
About Rhode Island College
A 81% acceptance rate means Rhode Island College is accessible to most applicants, 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
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72,090/yr
Special education teachers, secondary school
$69,590/yr
Special education teachers, all other
$67,430/yr
Compare & Explore
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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 Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 55/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching graduates.
How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Rhode Island College rank so high for Special Education and Teaching?
The #20 ranking out of 170 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 →