Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College's nursing graduates face an unusual problem: they're starting near the bottom among Rhode Island nursing programs and staying there. At $73,235 in first-year earnings, graduates trail the state median by $7,300—landing in just the 40th percentile among RI nursing programs. More concerning, earnings essentially flatline over four years while peers at other schools typically see growth. New England Institute of Technology and University of Rhode Island both deliver substantially stronger outcomes, with graduates earning $13,000-$15,000 more annually.

The debt load of $27,000 is perfectly average, but that becomes less reassuring when paired with below-average earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is manageable, meaning graduates dedicate roughly four to five months of pre-tax income to debt payments. However, this calculation assumes earnings remain stable—and these figures show zero growth over the first four years post-graduation, an atypical pattern for nursing careers.

For families choosing between Rhode Island nursing programs, this presents a clear financial disadvantage. The University of Rhode Island offers similar public school accessibility with roughly $10,000 higher annual earnings, translating to $40,000+ over four years. Unless Rhode Island College provides substantial tuition savings or location advantages, the earnings gap makes it difficult to justify over stronger alternatives within the state. The 81% admission rate suggests accessibility isn't the issue—outcome quality is.