Woodworkingat Rhode Island School of Design
Graduates earn $19,151/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $559K; scenarios range from $531K to $561K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rhode Island School of Design
At RISD, your woodworking education extends far beyond traditional carpentry. The program's elite reputation means you'll develop a unique artistic voice, focusing on conceptual design, material innovation, and fine art applications, rather than just production. This specialization means your early career earnings, while matching the national average for the field, reflect the bespoke, artisan market where high craft and custom commissions define value.
You'll enter a network known for pushing boundaries in furniture design, sculptural work, and architectural millwork, with graduates often establishing independent studios or working with high-end design firms. The low AI risk highlights the irreplaceable human skill and artistic judgment central to this craft. To thrive, leverage RISD's strong faculty and alumni connections to cultivate a distinctive portfolio and build entrepreneurial skills, securing your place in the niche market for exceptional, handcrafted pieces.
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.
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 Woodworking offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Woodworking trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Woodworking at Rhode Island School of Design
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Woodworking at Rhode Island School of Design?
A score of 10/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Woodworking. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Woodworking at Rhode Island School of Design worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,558 against $19,151/yr starting salary means roughly 1.4 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
What makes Rhode Island School of Design's Woodworking program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 1 programs nationally, Rhode Island School of Design lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.