Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Gulf Coast University's interdisciplinary studies program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—40th percentile among Florida schools—but the debt picture creates a troubling imbalance. Graduates earn $34,328 in their first year, slightly below both the state median ($35,476) and national average ($35,282). The real concern is the debt load: at $19,500, it ranks in the 95th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. While that sounds positive, it still translates to nearly 60% of first-year earnings going toward debt service under standard repayment terms.

The comparison to other Florida schools highlights the mediocrity here. Top performers like Hodges University ($60,897) and University of Central Florida ($37,282) demonstrate that interdisciplinary degrees don't have to mean modest outcomes. FGCU graduates earn $3,000 less annually than UCF's, despite comparable debt levels—a gap that compounds significantly over time.

The manageable debt partially salvages this investment, particularly for students who secure in-state tuition rates. But parents should recognize this is fundamentally a degree for students who have a specific career plan or graduate school trajectory in mind. Without that direction, the below-average earnings and limited upward mobility make this a risky choice compared to more focused programs, even at the same institution.