Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Coker University

Coker's interdisciplinary studies program presents a puzzling contrast: among South Carolina's four schools offering this degree, it lands at the median for both earnings and debt, yet nationally it ranks in the bottom 5% for graduate pay. The $21,574 first-year salary falls nearly $14,000 short of what graduates typically earn from interdisciplinary programs nationwide—barely above minimum wage for full-time work.

The debt picture compounds the problem. With graduates carrying $29,116 in loans against those first-year earnings, they face a 1.35 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means they're borrowing more than an entire year's salary, making standard loan repayment plans potentially unmanageable on this income level. While the debt load sits below the national median for this program type, it's still substantial given what graduates actually earn.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers particularly volatile and potentially unrepresentative. However, even accounting for statistical noise, the gap between Coker's outcomes and national benchmarks is too large to ignore. Unless family circumstances make Coker uniquely affordable or necessary, this particular program appears to create more financial burden than opportunity. Parents should look closely at total cost of attendance and consider whether in-state public options might deliver better returns, especially given Coker's 97% admission rate suggests limited selectivity premium.