Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College's Health Sciences program earns slightly below both national and state benchmarks—a concerning gap when Rhode Island programs typically command higher salaries in this field. At $34,995, graduates earn about $4,500 less than the state median of $39,502, placing this program in just the 40th percentile among RI schools. That's a meaningful difference for a state with only five programs, suggesting this particular degree may not open the same doors as competing options nearby.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $27,000, borrowing is modest and ties for the state median, resulting in a 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable if unexciting. Students here graduate with less debt than 75% of programs nationally, which helps offset the earnings shortfall. For Rhode Island College's largely middle-income student body (41% receive Pell grants), keeping debt below $30,000 matters.

The elephant in the room: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so outcomes could swing considerably with a larger sample. Still, the pattern is clear enough—if your child wants health sciences in Rhode Island and needs affordable tuition, this works as a backstop option. But if they can access Johnson & Wales or another competitor offering that $39,500 median, the $4,500 annual earnings difference compounds to real money over a career. This program gets students credentialed without crushing debt, but it's not the strongest launchpad in the state.