Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at South Dakota State University

A debt load near $26,000 against estimated first-year earnings around $35,000 creates a manageable but tight financial picture for interdisciplinary studies graduates. The 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within reasonable bounds—you're looking at roughly nine months of gross income to cover the total debt. Still, with monthly payments potentially consuming 8-10% of take-home pay on a standard repayment plan, there won't be much cushion in those early career years.

The challenge with this pathway is that "interdisciplinary studies" can mean vastly different things depending on how students structure their coursework. These national estimates, drawn from 55 similar programs nationwide, reflect that diversity—some graduates leverage this flexible degree into strong employment matches, while others struggle to articulate their value to employers who prefer traditional majors. At South Dakota State's open-admission environment, the outcomes likely depend heavily on whether students use this degree strategically (combining marketable skills with career planning) or as a default when other majors don't work out.

The practical reality: if your student has a clear plan for what they'll do with this degree—perhaps combining business courses with agriculture studies relevant to South Dakota's economy, or building a teaching-adjacent credential—the numbers work. If they're choosing this major because they're undecided or struggling elsewhere, that $26,000 in debt becomes riskier when the job market rewards specificity. Ask whether they can explain exactly what career doors this particular combination opens.