Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at Trinity Washington University

A bachelor's in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies from Trinity Washington appears positioned at the lower end of what's possible in DC, where comparable programs—like American University's—produce median first-year earnings near $49,500. Trinity's estimated $38,700 sits substantially below that DC benchmark, though it matches the national median for this field. For a program serving students at a nearly open-admission institution where half receive Pell grants, that gap matters: you're looking at roughly $11,000 less in annual earnings than peer programs in the same city deliver.

The estimated debt load of $25,900 translates to a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio, which falls within manageable territory by federal standards. However, when DC's competitive job market rewards graduates of similar programs with significantly higher starting salaries, the question becomes whether this particular credential provides adequate return. Similar interdisciplinary programs nationally cluster around these same figures, suggesting Trinity's outcomes reflect broader patterns in the field rather than institutional underperformance—but that doesn't change the practical challenge of launching a career in an expensive city on $38,700.

For families weighing this investment, understand that you're buying into median national outcomes in a high-cost metropolitan area. If DC employment is the goal, investigate whether Trinity's career services and alumni network can help close that $11,000 gap, or whether starting at a community college and transferring might preserve resources for a credential with clearer earning power.