Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies programs in Minnesota suggest first-year earnings around $42,000—right at the state median but below what Minnesota's public universities are producing for their top performers. At the University of Minnesota-Crookston, for instance, graduates in this field are clearing $54,000 their first year out. The estimated $25,878 in debt sits slightly below Minnesota's state median for the field, though that's a small consolation when the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 means your child would be carrying more than half their first-year salary in student loans.

What makes this harder to evaluate is that both the earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions rather than actual outcomes for Gustavus Adolphus graduates specifically. Given the school's 62% admission rate and relatively strong SAT profile (1320 average), there's reason to believe outcomes could vary—possibly better, possibly worse—from these state-level estimates. The interdisciplinary nature of the program also matters: these degrees can lead anywhere from nonprofit work to graduate school to entry-level business positions, making it particularly important to understand what specific career path your student is targeting.

The bottom line: You're potentially financing a mid-tier outcome at private school prices. Before committing, get concrete data from Gustavus about where their interdisciplinary studies graduates actually land and what they're earning, because these state-level estimates alone don't justify the investment when Minnesota's public institutions are producing stronger documented results in this field.