Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick's interdisciplinary studies program starts rough but shows impressive momentum—graduates earning just $33,109 in year one jump to $47,887 by year four, a 45% increase that's unusual for this field. That early figure puts the program in just the 24th percentile nationally, but the trajectory tells a more optimistic story. With debt at $26,250, you're looking at a manageable 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning less than a year's starting salary in loans.

Here's the twist: while Rutgers-New Brunswick ranks only in the 60th percentile among New Jersey programs, that's because you're competing against outliers like Thomas Edison State ($88,629), whose adult degree-completion students skew older with existing careers. Among traditional four-year programs, this Rutgers campus matches its Camden and Newark counterparts exactly at the state median. The real value emerges in years two through four, when earnings catch up substantially—suggesting graduates may start in entry-level positions but advance quickly.

The bet you're making is on trajectory over immediate returns. If your student can weather a modest first year (potentially supplemented by family support or part-time work), the program's strong growth pattern and Rutgers' established network make this viable for students who need a flexible major. Just understand that starting salary won't impress anyone at the first family gathering after graduation.