Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Southern Arkansas University Tech

Southern Arkansas University Tech's interdisciplinary studies associate program produces graduates earning $43,756 just one year out—roughly $11,000 above the national median for this degree and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. With debt of just $9,625, graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross earnings. For a two-year program serving a student body where 41% receive Pell grants, these outcomes represent exceptional value.

The state comparison is less straightforward since SAU Tech is currently the only Arkansas school reporting data for this particular associate-level program. However, the national comparison tells a clear story: this program dramatically outperforms similar interdisciplinary studies degrees elsewhere. The typical graduate from this program type nationally earns just $32,276—a $11,000 gap that compounds over a career.

For parents weighing community college options in southern Arkansas, this program offers a rare combination: low debt, strong immediate earnings, and outcomes that place it among the top-performing interdisciplinary programs in the country. The moderate sample size suggests consistent rather than anomalous results. This is precisely the kind of affordable credential that can launch a career without the burden of substantial debt.