Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus

With fewer than 30 graduates in this sample, these numbers flicker rather than illuminate, but they suggest Fairleigh Dickinson's interdisciplinary program roughly tracks with New Jersey norms. Graduates start at $37,183—exactly matching the state median and sitting 60th percentile both nationally and statewide. The $25,000 debt load is manageable at 0.67 times first-year earnings, and the jump to $52,604 by year four shows solid trajectory. Among the seven New Jersey schools offering this degree, FDU lands squarely in the middle.

The real question is what "interdisciplinary studies" means here—these programs vary wildly in focus and outcomes depending on how students structure them. The 96% admission rate tells you this isn't a selective environment, though the relatively low Pell percentage (22%) suggests many students come from families who can supplement the degree's modest starting salary. That initial $37,000 won't feel like much in the New York metro area's cost structure, even if it does grow substantially over time.

If your child has a clear plan for how to leverage this flexible degree—whether building a unique skill combination or preparing for graduate school—the debt burden won't be crushing. But without that clarity, paying $25,000 for what amounts to credential without strong market signaling is a gamble, especially when the small sample means next year's cohort could look completely different.