Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Loyola Marymount University

Similar interdisciplinary bachelor's programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $40,400—solidly in line with the statewide median but trailing far behind elite outcomes. At UC Berkeley and UCLA, interdisciplinary graduates earn over $45,000, while University of the Pacific's program produces starting salaries exceeding $100,000. That massive spread reveals how much program design and industry connections matter in this broad field category. An estimated $22,875 in debt sits above the California median for these programs, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 remains manageable compared to many liberal arts pathways.

The challenge with interdisciplinary studies is that the major itself tells employers almost nothing—outcomes depend entirely on how students build their focus and what networks they access. At a selective private university in Los Angeles with low Pell enrollment, you're paying for access and connections that should translate to better opportunities. But when peer programs at public universities are producing similar or better starting salaries, that value proposition requires scrutiny. The estimated figures here don't distinguish between an unfocused degree and a strategic combination of skills.

Before committing, demand specifics: What career tracks do recent graduates actually enter? What internship pipelines exist? The flexibility of interdisciplinary studies becomes an asset only when paired with intentional planning and robust institutional support—otherwise, you're taking on private school debt for public school outcomes in a field where the program name matters less than what students make of it.