Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Bentley University

A first-year salary around $35,000 feels surprisingly low for a Bentley degree, especially when other interdisciplinary programs in Massachusetts typically launch graduates closer to $40,000. Bentley markets itself as a business-focused institution with strong career outcomes, and while this program's debt level—estimated at $26,500 based on similar private university patterns—isn't catastrophic, the combination creates an unexpectedly tight financial picture. That 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would owe roughly nine months of their first year's income, manageable on paper but concerning for a school where the average SAT is 1340 and selectivity suggests premium positioning.

The data gaps here matter more than usual. With no reported outcomes for this specific program, we're relying entirely on national benchmarks from peer institutions, and interdisciplinary studies can mean vastly different things depending on how a school structures it. At some universities, these programs let students create custom majors that align with career goals; at others, they become catch-all degrees with less clear employment pathways. Given Bentley's business orientation, you'd hope this program connects to corporate opportunities that would push earnings higher than the national median—but without actual graduate data, that's speculation.

The practical question: if your child is considering Bentley, are there more established programs there with proven outcomes? If interdisciplinary studies is truly the best fit, the estimated figures suggest it could work financially, but you're betting on Bentley's network delivering results that aren't yet visible in the data.