Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Del Mar College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 is actually manageable territory for an associate degree—estimates from comparable programs suggest graduates borrow around $13,000 while earning roughly $36,000 in their first year. That means about a third of your first year's salary goes to student loans, which isn't ideal but is far better than what we see with some bachelor's programs. The challenge here is that interdisciplinary studies degrees are intentionally broad, designed more as stepping stones to further education or as credential-builders for people already working than as direct pathways to specific careers.

What's worth noting about Del Mar is its student population—with a third of students receiving Pell grants, this is a program serving many working adults and students balancing multiple responsibilities. For them, this degree often functions as a way to complete college credits while maintaining employment, which might explain why the earnings don't show the dramatic jump you'd see with more specialized technical credentials. The estimated figures align perfectly with national medians for this type of program, suggesting Del Mar's outcomes track with what's typical nationwide.

The practical question is whether your child plans to transfer these credits toward a bachelor's degree or use this associate as an endpoint. If it's a transfer pathway, the debt load is reasonable. If it's a terminal degree, understand that similar programs typically produce modest earnings gains—this isn't a workforce shortcut like nursing or welding.