Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Southwestern Oklahoma State University

First-year earnings of $44,818 place Southwestern Oklahoma's interdisciplinary studies program squarely in the middle of the state's offerings and well above the national median of $38,704. While the debt figure of $25,373 is estimated from similar schools nationally (this program's graduate pool is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual debt data), that ratio suggests graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary—a manageable starting point that most financial advisors consider reasonable for a bachelor's degree.

The challenge with interdisciplinary studies programs is that outcomes vary wildly depending on what students actually study and which career paths they pursue. Rogers State's graduates earn $56,439 in their first year with the same credential, showing there's significant room for variation even within Oklahoma. The program serves a lot of working adults and non-traditional students at Southwestern Oklahoma, which may explain both the modest debt load and the solid middle-tier earnings—many of these students are already employed and using the degree to advance in existing careers rather than launching entirely new ones.

For families considering this path, the key question is whether your student has a clear career goal that this flexible degree supports. The numbers work if this is a strategic choice—finishing a degree while working, combining multiple interests for a specific job market, or meeting a credential requirement for advancement. They're less compelling if it's a default option without a plan attached.