Home Schools University of Rhode Island Sociology
Social Sciences · Sociology Rank #37 of 414

Sociologyat University of Rhode Island

Graduates earn $42,554/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $577K; scenarios range from $529K to $586K depending on AI disruption.

Kingston, RI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
50 AVERAGE
51
Optimistic
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,554
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$577K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Rhode Island

First-year earnings of $42,554 at University of Rhode Island come in 24% above the national median of $34,392 for Sociology programs.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$42,554 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #37 ranking out of 414 Sociology programs nationally puts University of Rhode Island in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,554 to $62,936 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$529K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple8.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$577K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple8.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$586K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple8.9x
Earnings Trajectory

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.

Career Paths

Where Sociology graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Sociologists
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$101,690/yr
High
3
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$82,540/yr
Moderate
4
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$75,040/yr
Low
5
Social science research assistants
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 5,200 openings/yr
$58,040/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Sociology

How University of Rhode Island stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Top score
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit
49
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Colgate University
NY · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Also at University of Rhode Island

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 Sociology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Sociology at University of Rhode Island

How does University of Rhode Island's Sociology program score?

This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sociology graduates.

How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Sociology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.