Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Minnesota State-Mankato's interdisciplinary studies program sits in the bottom half of Minnesota options, earning about $7,000 less than the state median four years out. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually see their income decline by 7% between their first and fourth year out, dropping from $37,880 to $35,235. Compare that to top-performing programs at U of M-Crookston ($54,656) or Metro State ($49,751), and the gap becomes substantial—roughly $15,000-20,000 annually by year four.

The moderate debt load of $30,325 isn't extreme, but paired with declining earnings, it creates a challenging repayment scenario. Your child would be managing loan payments while earning less than when they started their career. The program does perform better than the national median on debt (9th percentile), but that advantage matters less when the earnings can't sustain comfortable repayment.

If your child is set on an interdisciplinary degree in Minnesota, the data suggests looking at Metro State or one of the University of Minnesota campuses first. Those programs deliver measurably stronger outcomes without necessarily carrying more debt. This particular program might work for students with specific career plans that justify the lower earnings, but it's not the value play among Minnesota's interdisciplinary options.