Location: Kingston, RI•In-State Tuition: $16,408•Out-of-State Tuition: $35,804•Admission Rate: 77%•Avg SAT: 1176
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$47,506
Est. from national median (242 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,624
Est. from national median (115 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests a manageable financial picture for this program, with estimated first-year earnings of $47,506 against roughly $23,624 in debt. Based on comparable business bachelor's programs nationally, URI's outcomes appear to align with typical mid-career entry points in the field. The estimated earnings match the national median exactly, meaning this program sits squarely in the middle of the 471 business programs tracked nationwide—neither a standout performer nor a laggard.

The relatively modest debt load is the stronger part of this equation. At about half the first-year salary, graduates should be able to service these loans without severe strain, assuming they secure employment in their field. Business degrees typically offer flexible career paths, and URI's 77% admission rate suggests accessibility without sacrificing reasonable post-graduation prospects. The bigger question is whether this program can help students access higher-earning business roles, since the top quartile of programs nationally produce $54,742 in first-year earnings—a meaningful $7,000 premium.

Without program-specific data from URI itself, you're relying on national averages to project outcomes. That means individual results could vary significantly based on internship quality, networking, and career services support—factors these estimates can't capture. If your student is comparing URI to other business programs with actual reported outcomes, prioritize those schools where you can see real graduate earnings rather than projections.

Where University of Rhode Island Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

University of Rhode Island (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of Rhode IslandKingston$16,408$47,506*—$23,624*—
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$94,041*——*—
New York UniversityNew York$60,438$77,828*$115,546$19,500*0.25
Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem$64,758$76,722*$91,708$18,899*0.25
Baylor UniversityWaco$54,844$74,886*$90,608$15,000*0.20
Northeastern UniversityBoston$63,141$74,868*$91,376$24,000*0.32
National Median—$47,506*—$26,000*0.55
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Rhode Island, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 242 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.