Economicsat University of Rhode Island
Graduates earn $43,444/yr in their first year — about 19.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $612K; scenarios range from $548K to $626K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Rhode Island
Starting salaries of $43,444/yr fall 19% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
A 9.3x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.
The 12% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $21,250 in median debt against $43,444 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #276 ranking among 351 Economics programs places University of Rhode Island in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 46% earnings increase from $43,444 to $63,644 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 University of Rhode Island'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 Economics
How University of Rhode Island stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Rhode Island
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Rhode Island, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at University of Rhode Island
What does a 59/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at University of Rhode Island?
At 59/100, the score looks reasonable — but Economics is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at University of Rhode Island?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Rhode Island a good choice for Economics despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of Rhode Island's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.