Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies at University of Idaho

The small graduating class size here makes definitive conclusions difficult, but University of Idaho's Intercultural/Multicultural Studies program shows surprisingly strong earnings that put it at the top nationally—though that comparison pool is small, with just 47 schools nationwide offering this degree. The real story is the earnings trajectory: graduates start at $26,539 but reach $42,334 within four years, a 60% jump that's rare for liberal arts programs. With moderate debt of $18,622, the initial year looks tight financially, but by year four, the debt-to-earnings picture improves considerably.

Context matters here: this is Idaho's only program in this field, so there's no in-state comparison to gauge typical outcomes. Nationally, these graduates are outearning 95% of their peers in the same major, which is striking—though again, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few high earners could skew the numbers significantly. The program might be preparing students for specific roles that pay well in the Northwest, or the data could reflect an unusually successful cohort.

For an anxious parent, the question is whether your student can handle the financial uncertainty of that first year or two. If they can bridge the gap through family support, additional work, or living at home, the four-year outlook looks promising. But if immediate post-graduation income is critical, this program carries risk—especially given we're working with a very limited data set that may not represent future outcomes reliably.