Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Buena Vista University

Buena Vista's interdisciplinary studies program costs students $9,000 more in debt than the typical Iowa program while producing earnings at the state median. That's a significant price premium for middle-of-the-pack results—graduates here rank in the 60th percentile among Iowa programs, but they're borrowing in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt load nearly equals first-year earnings, creating immediate financial pressure that Iowa students at comparable programs largely avoid.

The earnings trajectory offers little relief. Four years out, graduates see essentially flat income growth at $37,512, lagging both the national median for this degree ($38,704) and what University of Iowa graduates earn. With 43% of students qualifying for Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially, making the above-average debt burden particularly concerning.

For Iowa families, this comes down to a straightforward affordability question. Your child could earn similar money with $9,000 less debt at other in-state programs. Unless Buena Vista offers compelling personal fit factors—specific faculty relationships, location needs, or campus culture—the financial math doesn't favor this choice when Iowa's public universities deliver comparable outcomes at lower cost.