Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Christian Brothers University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 sits in reasonable territory—peer programs nationally suggest graduates carry about $26,500 in loans against first-year earnings of roughly $35,000. That's manageable compared to many bachelor's degrees, though the interdisciplinary nature of this program means outcomes can vary significantly depending on how students apply their degree and what career path they ultimately pursue.

The challenge here is visibility. With Christian Brothers' relatively accessible admission profile (88% acceptance, SAT scores around 1069) and these estimated figures tracking right at national medians for interdisciplinary studies programs, there's no obvious premium for choosing this particular school. Similar programs across the country appear to produce comparable results. Tennessee has seven other options in this field, though none report sufficient graduate data for direct comparison—a pattern that suggests these programs often serve small cohorts with diverse post-graduation paths.

For a family weighing this investment, the interdisciplinary degree's flexibility is both strength and weakness. It can open doors for students who craft a clear narrative about their combined interests, but it lacks the defined career pipeline of more specialized majors. At these estimated debt levels, the program won't trap a graduate financially, but with earnings clustering in the mid-$30,000s based on peer programs, this works best for students who have a specific plan for how they'll translate their broad education into employment—not those still figuring things out.