Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at California State University-Fresno

California State's interdisciplinary bachelor's programs typically produce first-year earnings around $40,000, which matches what peer programs across the state suggest for this degree. With an estimated debt load of $15,900—about $10,000 below the national median for this field—Fresno State appears to keep borrowing costs reasonably contained while delivering earnings in line with state averages. That 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio is better than you'll find at most comparable programs.

The caveat is significant: these estimates come from similar programs statewide because Fresno State's graduate cohort for this particular major was too small for the Department of Education to publish. Interdisciplinary studies degrees vary wildly in how they're constructed—some focus on professional skills, others on liberal arts synthesis—which means actual outcomes could differ from these peer-based projections. The top performers in California's interdisciplinary programs reach $45,000-$104,000 in first-year earnings, suggesting there's meaningful variation in how these degrees translate to the job market.

For families weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest manageable debt relative to entry-level pay, particularly given that over half of students here receive Pell grants. But before committing, press the program directly about what their graduates actually do after graduation and whether they track placement outcomes, since the aggregated state data can only tell you so much about this specific interdisciplinary curriculum.