Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at College of Our Lady of the Elms

A $26,500 debt load for first-year earnings around $35,000 sounds reasonable on paper—and compared to peer programs nationally, it is. But Massachusetts tells a different story. Similar interdisciplinary bachelor's programs in the state typically produce first-year earnings of $39,530, roughly $4,200 more than what comparable programs nationally suggest for Elms graduates. That gap matters when you're facing five-figure student loan payments.

The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio based on these estimates falls within a manageable range, but it's worth noting that interdisciplinary studies degrees often serve as pathways to graduate school or specific career fields where the bachelor's alone may not be the endpoint. If your child plans to continue their education, that debt compounds. If they're entering the workforce immediately, that $35,000 starting salary—while typical for this degree nationally—leaves less cushion in Massachusetts, where the cost of living runs considerably higher than the national average.

Here's what this means practically: peer programs suggest your child could start their career earning about $3,000 less per month before taxes, with loan payments that will claim a noticeable chunk of that. If they're pursuing this degree as preparation for a specific graduate program or licensure, factor in those additional costs now. If they're drawn to the flexibility of interdisciplinary studies but plan to work after graduation, investigate what career services and alumni outcomes look like—not just what the estimated numbers suggest.