Apparel and Textilesat Rhode Island School of Design
Graduates earn $14,537/yr in their first year — about 60.0% below the national Apparel and Textiles average. Base-case 10-year earnings $337K; scenarios range from $346K to $318K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rhode Island School of Design
RISD's Apparel and Textiles program is renowned for cultivating cutting-edge designers with a strong artistic vision and mastery of innovative techniques, rather than focusing on mass-market production. This emphasis on conceptual design, sustainable materials, and textile art means graduates often pursue niche, high-end, or independent ventures, where building a reputation and client base takes time.
While Providence isn't a major fashion capital, RISD's global network is unparalleled, opening doors to design studios, textile innovation labs, and even roles in specialized materials science or creative direction. Your career path might involve contributing to avant-garde collections, developing smart textiles, or shaping brand identities. To maximize your potential, you'll need to proactively leverage RISD's connections, secure impactful internships, and continuously refine a distinctive portfolio that showcases your unique voice.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Rhode Island School of Design's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Apparel and Textiles
How Rhode Island School of Design stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Rhode Island School of Design
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rhode Island School of Design, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Apparel and Textiles offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Apparel and Textiles trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Apparel and Textiles at Rhode Island School of Design
How does Rhode Island School of Design's Apparel and Textiles program score?
This program scores 29/100 — on the lower end for Apparel and Textiles. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Rhode Island School of Design Apparel and Textiles graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.9x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Apparel and Textiles to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Apparel and Textiles 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 are Apparel and Textiles earnings lower at Rhode Island School of Design?
Lower starting pay at Rhode Island School of Design may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.