Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Roger Williams University

A bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies from Roger Williams likely costs around $26,000 in student debt, based on typical borrowing patterns at private nonprofit schools like this one. That debt load—paired with estimated first-year earnings near $39,000 from similar programs nationally—creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, which sits in manageable territory. The challenge here is that interdisciplinary degrees are inherently variable: outcomes depend heavily on what fields a student combines and how they position themselves in the job market.

Rhode Island has only five schools offering this type of program, but none report actual outcomes data, making it difficult to assess how this degree performs regionally. What we can say is that Roger Williams admits nearly 90% of applicants and draws a relatively affluent student body (just 16% receive Pell grants), which sometimes correlates with stronger family networks for landing that crucial first job. The national picture for interdisciplinary studies shows wide variation—top programs produce earnings 20% higher than the median—suggesting that program design and career services matter considerably.

The practical takeaway: this program's estimated debt burden won't be crushing, but you're essentially betting on your child's ability to translate a broad curriculum into marketable skills. If they have a clear career direction and will use this flexibility strategically, the numbers work. If they're choosing interdisciplinary studies because they're unsure what they want, that $26,000 debt becomes riskier.