Political Science and Government at University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
46
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,649/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #295 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $652K $634K $569K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.9x 9.7x 8.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.4x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 46 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,632
Out-of-state: $143,216 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,596
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,567
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,055
106% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,649/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from University of Rhode Island land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,567 represents roughly 7 months of the $31,649 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #295 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Rhode Island falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $65,055 show a 106% jump from the $31,649 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Rhode Island

With 77% of applicants admitted, University of Rhode Island prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 13,822 in Kingston, RI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Rhode Island →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at University of Rhode Island?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $568,849 in decade earnings vs $652,267 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →