Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Idaho State University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 is often considered manageable—national guidelines suggest anything under 1.0 means first-year salary should cover debt payments without major strain. However, Idaho State's estimated figures tell a more complicated story. Similar interdisciplinary studies programs nationally suggest starting earnings around $38,700 with debt near $25,400, but within Idaho itself, the one program with reported data—Boise State—shows substantially higher earnings at $45,369. That $6,600 gap matters when you're calculating monthly loan payments against entry-level wages.

The challenge with interdisciplinary studies degrees is their variability: outcomes depend heavily on how students structure their coursework and what career path they pursue. Without actual graduate data from Idaho State's program specifically, it's impossible to know whether their students lean toward higher-earning applications or lower-paying fields. The national estimates provide a baseline, but they mask the reality that some graduates thrive while others struggle to translate this broad credential into competitive job offers.

For families weighing this investment, the key question is whether your student has a clear career strategy that will leverage this degree effectively. If they're pursuing interdisciplinary studies as a fallback or without direction, peer program data suggests they'll face tougher financial odds than if they had specific professional goals that require this flexible approach.