Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Boston University

Boston University's Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies program delivers first-year earnings of $54,456—about 31% above the Massachusetts median and 41% above the national benchmark for this field. Among interdisciplinary programs in Massachusetts, only Brandeis comes close. The debt load of $22,625 is actually lower than both state and national medians, producing a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. That means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with less than half a year's salary, a favorable position for any liberal arts-oriented degree.

The important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances can swing these numbers significantly. Interdisciplinary programs often serve as custom-built majors for students with specific career goals or dual interests, which may partly explain the strong earnings—these graduates likely pursued targeted paths rather than the more diffuse outcomes typical of this degree category nationally.

For parents weighing this investment, the numbers suggest BU provides substantial value-add even in a program type that often underperforms. The combination of relatively modest debt and earnings that outpace 95% of similar programs nationally makes this a reasonable bet, though the small sample means you should dig into what specific interdisciplinary focus your student would pursue and how BU supports career outcomes for those particular combinations.