Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Long Island University

The numbers here are too shaky to justify the investment. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, we're looking at a data sample so small that a handful of individual outcomes could swing these figures dramatically—and what they currently show isn't reassuring.

That first-year earning of $21,549 ranks in the bottom 10th percentile among New York interdisciplinary programs, well below the state median of $32,652. While earnings jump to $39,867 by year four, that's still roughly $8,000 below what graduates from Empire State or NYU Institute of Technology earn. The $21,000 debt load isn't catastrophic, but it equals nearly a full year's starting salary, creating real financial pressure during those crucial early career years when wages are lowest.

The broader concern is what an interdisciplinary degree from LIU actually qualifies you to do. These programs work best when they prepare students for specific career paths—data science combining computer science and statistics, or environmental policy blending science and public administration. Without knowing whether this program has that focus, and given its weak relative performance among New York options, parents should look hard at more established interdisciplinary programs in the SUNY system or clarify exactly what career path this degree opens up. If LIU can't answer that question convincingly, look elsewhere.