Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Scripps College

Scripps College is a selective liberal arts institution (34% acceptance rate, 1480 average SAT), yet comparable interdisciplinary bachelor's programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $40,400—essentially the state median and barely above the national benchmark. When you're paying for the prestige and small-class environment of a women's college, you'd hope for stronger career outcomes than what peer programs deliver. The estimated debt of $22,875 isn't catastrophic—it's actually lower than the national median for this field—but it means graduates would be devoting roughly 57% of their first year's salary to debt service, which is manageable but not comfortable.

The challenge with interdisciplinary studies is the wide variance in what students actually do with the degree. Some California programs produce graduates earning over $100,000 (University of the Pacific) or mid-$40,000s (UCLA, Berkeley), while others land closer to $35,000. Without knowing where Scripps graduates specifically fall in that range, you're making an expensive bet that your child will design a curriculum and internship strategy that leads to the higher end. The selective admissions suggest capable students, but capability alone doesn't guarantee strong employment outcomes in a field this broad.

If your child has a clear career trajectory and is leveraging Scripps' consortium access and Los Angeles connections strategically, this could work. But if they're choosing interdisciplinary studies because they're undecided, that $40,000 starting salary estimate should prompt serious conversations about whether this investment makes sense compared to more focused programs.