Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's interdisciplinary certificate punches dramatically above its weight class. At $88,014 in first-year earnings, graduates earn more than double the national median for similar programs ($37,396) and land in the 95th percentile nationally. With just $14,000 in typical debt, the 0.16 debt-to-earnings ratio means students can pay off their investment in less than two months of gross income—exceptional by any measure.

The state context is harder to interpret since Purdue appears to be the only Indiana school tracked for this specific credential, but that national comparison tells the story clearly. This isn't your typical interdisciplinary certificate leading to $37,000 entry-level positions. Something distinctive is happening here—whether it's Purdue's engineering-adjacent environment, employer connections, or the specific mix of skills these students acquire—that translates into immediate earning power.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) adds some uncertainty, but these numbers are so far above national norms that even accounting for variation, this looks like a strong bet. For families worried about certificate programs delivering vague "breadth" without marketable skills, this program demonstrates that the right interdisciplinary combination at a respected technical institution can actually command serious employer interest. The low debt makes it a particularly safe experiment for students still figuring out their direction.