Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's interdisciplinary studies program demonstrates how institutional prestige can elevate even exploratory majors. Starting at $46,154, graduates earn 19% above the typical interdisciplinary studies graduate in California and rank in the 74th percentile nationally—a meaningful premium for a degree often dismissed as unfocused. More importantly, earnings jump 42% by year four to reach $65,593, suggesting graduates successfully leverage UCLA's brand and network into career advancement.

The financial structure makes this accessible risk-taking possible. At just $15,000 in median debt—less than one-third of first-year earnings and well below both state and national medians—students have unusual flexibility to explore careers without crippling payments. This matters for a program that likely attracts students still discovering their direction or building custom skill combinations.

The gap behind University of the Pacific's graduates ($105K) is dramatic, but that's a specialized program serving different career paths. Among broader interdisciplinary offerings at comparable UC campuses, UCLA graduates substantially out-earn those from UC Irvine ($35K) and compete closely with Berkeley ($45K). For students who need the structure of a four-year degree but want curricular flexibility, this program delivers UCLA's resources and credential without the debt burden that would make experimentation dangerous. The 9% admission rate means getting in is the hard part; the finances won't constrain what comes after.