Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at MidAmerica Nazarene University

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies programs at private Christian universities like MidAmerica Nazarene often appeal to students seeking flexibility, but the economics deserve scrutiny. Based on comparable programs nationally, expect roughly $35,000 in first-year earnings against $26,500 in debt—a 0.75 ratio that's manageable but hardly inspiring. That salary barely edges above what many retail management positions offer, yet comes with the cost of a four-year private college education. While interdisciplinary degrees can provide broad skills, employers often struggle to understand what graduates actually learned, which may explain why these programs cluster at the lower end of bachelor's degree earnings.

The debt burden itself isn't catastrophic—it matches the national median for similar programs—but paired with below-average starting pay, it means your child will be making loan payments that feel substantial relative to their paycheck. Since we're working with estimates from peer institutions rather than MidAmerica Nazarene's own graduate outcomes, there's inherent uncertainty here. The school's modest selectivity and test scores suggest it serves a broad student population, which could mean individual results vary significantly based on what students make of the program.

If your child is considering this route, push for specifics: What exactly will they study? What career paths do recent graduates actually pursue? Without clearer outcomes data from the university itself, you're essentially betting that your child's experience will mirror national trends—a bet that requires strong conviction about their post-graduation plans and networking abilities.