Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at The University of Texas at Tyler

UT Tyler's Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies graduates face a puzzling trajectory: they start above the national average but end up trailing most Texas competitors. With first-year earnings of $43,359, they're performing well relative to interdisciplinary programs nationwide—landing in the 65th percentile. But zoom out to the Texas market, and they fall to the 40th percentile, earning about $4,400 less than the state median. Meanwhile, programs at University of Houston and Texas Southern are producing graduates who earn $13,000-$14,000 more annually.

The bigger concern is what happens next: earnings actually slip 3% by year four, down to $41,965. This backward momentum matters because most bachelor's degrees should build earning power over time. The debt load of $26,658 isn't alarming—it's manageable at 0.61 times first-year income—but it gets less manageable as earnings decline rather than grow. For a broad program like interdisciplinary studies, you'd expect graduates to find their footing and advance; instead, they're losing ground.

If your student is committed to this field and staying in East Texas where UT Tyler has strong connections, the program offers reasonable entry-level outcomes without crushing debt. But families should understand they're choosing a middle-tier option in a state with notably stronger programs, and the earnings pattern suggests graduates may struggle to advance without additional credentials or strategic career pivots.