Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at American University

American University's interdisciplinary studies program significantly outperforms national expectations, with first-year graduates earning $49,486—nearly $11,000 above the national median for this field and landing in the 86th percentile nationally. The 19% earnings growth to $58,815 by year four suggests graduates are finding career traction rather than hitting a ceiling. With $23,000 in median debt (slightly below the national median for this program), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary—a manageable starting point for most families.

The DC context matters here. This program sits at the 60th percentile among the capital's limited options for interdisciplinary studies, but that's still solid performance in a market where the median for this degree matches American's exactly. The university's location likely helps—interdisciplinary graduates often need access to diverse employers, and DC's government, nonprofit, and policy sectors reward flexible generalists who can connect across domains.

The real question is whether your student thrives with structure or needs the freedom to design their own academic path. This program works financially for graduates who can articulate what they've built from their customized curriculum. The earnings trajectory and low debt burden suggest most are doing exactly that.