Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Marist University

Marist's interdisciplinary studies program commands a significant premium over typical outcomes for this degree, with graduates earning $57,906 within a year—64% above the national median and 44% more than the typical New York graduate in this field. That 80th percentile ranking among New York programs is particularly meaningful since most alternatives are CUNY schools with lower tuition but also substantially lower earnings. The debt load of $31,142 is only slightly above state norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that's quite manageable compared to many liberal arts programs.

The caveat worth noting is minimal earnings growth—just $725 over four years—which suggests these graduates may be landing in roles with fairly defined salary bands rather than steep career trajectories. However, starting near $58,000 with moderate debt means your child wouldn't be playing catch-up like graduates from many interdisciplinary programs who start in the mid-$30,000s.

The value proposition here depends on fit: if your child thrives in Marist's teaching environment and can leverage its Hudson Valley connections, you're paying extra for genuinely better outcomes. If they're comparing this to CUNY options purely on financial terms, they'd save on tuition but likely sacrifice $15,000-20,000 in annual earning potential. For families who can afford Marist's private-school pricing without excessive borrowing, the employment outcomes justify the investment.