Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at University of Arizona

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 sits in reasonable territory—peer Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies programs nationally suggest borrowing about $25,000 to earn roughly $39,000 in the first year out. That's a manageable burden if these figures hold, though there's meaningful uncertainty here since the University of Arizona's actual outcomes for this program aren't being reported due to small graduate numbers.

What should catch your attention is the gap with other Arizona programs. Arizona State's similar bachelor's degrees show first-year earnings around $46,000—about $7,000 more than what comparable interdisciplinary programs typically produce nationally. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies is inherently broad, and outcomes depend heavily on how students focus their coursework and what connections they build with employers. At a large public university like U of A, that self-direction matters enormously.

The practical reality: if your student gravitates toward this major, push them to treat it as a customizable degree rather than a default option. The estimation based on peer programs suggests decent but unremarkable returns. Arizona's job market can support stronger outcomes in this field, but students need internships, clear career narratives, and specific skill sets to reach them. Without actual data from U of A's graduates, you're essentially betting that their experience will mirror the national median rather than lag behind state competitors.