Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Mount Saint Mary's University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 sounds manageable on paper, but the reality for interdisciplinary studies graduates in California deserves scrutiny. Based on comparable programs nationally, first-year earnings around $35,000 paired with $26,500 in debt means monthly loan payments consuming roughly 10% of take-home pay—tight but workable if employment is stable. However, similar programs across California typically produce lower earnings (around $32,500), and with 55% of students here receiving Pell grants, many families won't have cushion if that first job takes time to materialize or doesn't pan out.

The challenge with interdisciplinary studies is less about the numbers and more about what the degree signals to employers. While the credential offers flexibility, peer programs show graduates landing in a wide range of fields with equally wide salary variation. The students who succeed typically enter with a clear plan—using the degree's breadth strategically rather than viewing it as an exploration phase. For families stretching to afford a private university education, that uncertainty matters more than it would at a state school where the same credential costs less and produces similar outcomes.