Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Sul Ross State University

Sul Ross State University's interdisciplinary studies program struggles in the Texas market, ranking in just the 25th percentile among state programs with first-year earnings of $37,501—nearly $11,000 below the state median of $48,381. That's a significant gap, especially when programs at University of Houston and University of North Texas are placing graduates at $50,000+. The comparison is stark: this program earns $20,000 less annually than top Texas performers.

The saving grace here is exceptionally low debt. At $14,627, graduates owe roughly half what's typical for this degree in Texas and 40% less than the national median. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.39, meaning graduates could realistically pay off loans within a few years even on these modest salaries. For a school serving a majority first-generation student population (52% Pell recipients), avoiding heavy debt loads matters tremendously.

The fundamental question is whether avoiding debt justifies significantly below-market earnings. If your child is primarily seeking affordability and credential completion—and understands they'll likely need to compete harder in the job market or pursue graduate education to reach median Texas earnings—this program delivers. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, other Texas public universities offer substantially better outcomes at comparable debt levels.