Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Corban University

At $23,562 in debt for a bachelor's that national peer programs suggest will yield around $35,000 in first-year earnings, Corban's interdisciplinary studies program lands in less familiar territory than many Oregon families might expect. The debt load sits in the 78th percentile nationally—meaning three-quarters of similar programs produce lighter debt burdens—while estimated earnings track right at the national median. This isn't the financial disaster some programs present, but it's also not the clear win parents typically hope for when writing tuition checks to a private institution.

The comparison to Oregon's other interdisciplinary programs adds useful context: the single state program with reported data shows graduates earning around $31,000, suggesting Corban's estimated $35,000 sits slightly above the regional norm. That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 means graduates would carry debt equivalent to about eight months of their first-year salary—manageable but not trivial. For a program at a school with 90% admission and limited earning power in year one, this creates meaningful monthly payment obligations when graduates are likely establishing themselves professionally.

The core challenge here is that you're making a financial decision based on estimates rather than Corban's actual graduate outcomes, which the college either hasn't produced in sufficient numbers or haven't been reported. If your family is drawn to Corban's specific mission or community, recognize you're taking on above-average debt for field-typical earnings—a trade worth making only if the non-financial benefits clearly justify it.