Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall's interdisciplinary program delivers remarkably strong earnings growth—graduates see their income jump 40% between year one and year four, reaching nearly $61,000. While the initial salary of $43,593 sits right at Pennsylvania's median for this field, it's notably above the national benchmark, and the trajectory matters more than the starting point. The debt load of roughly $20,000 is well below both state and national averages, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that gets even more favorable as earnings climb.

The program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide and 66th nationally—solid mid-pack performance that reflects F&M's selective admissions (32% acceptance rate, 1394 SAT average) without commanding the premium of more pre-professional degrees. It's worth noting that Pennsylvania's top interdisciplinary program at Drexel pays significantly more at $72,000, but that comparison may reflect Drexel's co-op model and urban location rather than purely academic differences.

For families comfortable with a liberal arts approach and confident their student will develop marketable skills through internships or graduate study, this represents reasonable value. The low debt is the safety net here—even if your child's career takes time to develop, they won't be crushed by payments while figuring it out.