Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at San Francisco State University

California's interdisciplinary bachelor's programs typically show first-year earnings around $40,000, which aligns with where San Francisco State graduates would likely land based on comparable programs statewide. At an estimated $15,862 in debt, this represents a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39—well below the concerning 1.0 threshold and notably lighter than the $17,264 median debt for similar California programs.

What this suggests practically: interdisciplinary degrees serve different purposes at different schools, and the earnings spread in California is enormous—from $35,000 to over $100,000 at University of the Pacific. The likely $40,000 starting point at SF State sits near the middle of this range but trails substantially behind UC campuses like Berkeley and UCLA, where similar programs lead to $45,000-$46,000 first-year earnings. The difference matters in an expensive city like San Francisco, where even $5,000-$6,000 in additional annual income significantly affects standard of living.

The lighter debt load helps offset the modest earnings, making this less risky financially than it might initially appear. But parents should understand that interdisciplinary studies programs often require students to create their own career narrative—the value depends heavily on what your child builds from the degree, not just the credential itself. If they have a clear plan for how this flexible major serves specific career goals, the reasonable debt makes it worth considering.