Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Arkansas State University

A $20,000 debt load for a bachelor's degree puts this program well below the national median for interdisciplinary studies, which typically sits around $25,500. That's meaningful debt management. However, the earnings picture based on comparable programs nationally—roughly $38,700 in the first year—lags significantly behind what other interdisciplinary studies programs in Arkansas produce. The state median sits at $56,000, and University of Arkansas Grantham graduates in this field are earning $74,400. That's nearly double what peer programs nationally suggest for first-year outcomes.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 is manageable on paper, meaning graduates would owe about half their first-year salary. But that calculation assumes the national estimate holds true here, which the Arkansas data suggests may be pessimistic. If Arkansas State's actual outcomes align more closely with state patterns than national ones, this program becomes considerably more attractive. The flip side: Arkansas Tech's reported $37,760—nearly identical to the national estimate—shows that not every Arkansas program delivers the state's stronger typical outcomes.

For parents, the conservative move is to plan around the $38,700 figure while investigating why some Arkansas programs outperform so dramatically. Ask the school directly about placement rates, graduate outcomes, and whether their interdisciplinary degree leads to specific career paths that might explain the wide variance across the state.