Compare 7 Political Economy. programs in Rhode Island. Average earnings: $52,524.
With top graduates earning $72,438, Political Economy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $20K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Brown University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $72,438, well above the $52,524 average across Rhode Island's 7 programs. Bryant University follows at $66,316 with a 66% acceptance rate, while Providence College rounds out the top three at $61,041—demonstrating that outcomes vary by program strength, not school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Brown graduates borrow $11,428 and face just a 3.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Rhode Island College offers the best family value with a 17.5% burden including parent loans, proving the optimal choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $72,438 | 78 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Challenging |
| #2 | Bryant UniversityPrivate | $66,316 | 19 | $26,849 | Good | $55,956 | High |
| #3 | Providence CollegePrivate | $61,041 | 59 | $27,000 | Good | $46,300 | High |
| #4 | $54,781 | 95 | $22,250 | Good | $28,000 | Challenging | |
| #5 | Rhode Island CollegePublic | $51,733 | 28 | $20,500 | Good | $14,512 | Manageable |
| #6 | Roger Williams UniversityPrivate | $37,327 | 21 | $26,940 | High | $49,892 | High |
| #7 | Salve Regina UniversityPrivate | $24,035 | 11 | $27,000 | High | $41,621 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
