Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at California Lutheran University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a troubling story that's hard to ignore. California Lutheran's interdisciplinary studies graduates earn just $23,879 in their first year—nearly $17,000 below the California median for this program and ranking in the bottom 10th percentile statewide. While the debt load of $22,875 is slightly lower than the national average, it nearly equals first-year earnings, creating an immediate financial strain that most competing programs avoid.

What makes this particularly concerning is the gap between California Lutheran and other California schools. The state's median earnings for interdisciplinary studies sits at $40,432—70% higher than what graduates here are seeing. Top California programs like UC Berkeley and Cal Poly Humboldt place graduates earning $45,000+, nearly double this program's outcome. Even accounting for the small sample (under 30 graduates), being in the 5th percentile nationally suggests a pattern worth examining carefully.

For $22,875 in debt, you'd expect your child to land somewhere closer to the middle of the pack, not near the bottom. Unless there are specific circumstances that make California Lutheran uniquely suited to your child's needs—strong personal connections, geographic constraints, or a clear pathway to higher-paying work after that first year—other California options would likely deliver significantly better returns on a similar investment.