Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at University of Illinois Springfield

This post-baccalaureate certificate from University of Illinois Springfield occupies an unusual space: it sits squarely in the middle for Illinois programs (60th percentile) but near the bottom nationally (5th percentile). That dramatic split reveals more about the limited landscape—only 18 schools nationwide offer this particular credential—than about UIS itself. With first-year earnings around $57,700 and manageable debt of $18,800, graduates face a reasonable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio that most should handle comfortably.

The real question mark here is trajectory. Earnings barely budge between years one and four, rising just $463 total. For a post-baccalaureate investment, you'd ideally see this credential opening doors to advancement, not lateral moves. The modest debt load softens this concern somewhat—you're not betting heavily on future growth. But the flat earnings pattern suggests this certificate functions more as a credential add-on for existing professionals than a career accelerator.

For parents whose child already has a bachelor's degree and specific professional reasons to pursue this interdisciplinary credential, the numbers aren't alarming—the debt is manageable and early earnings are reasonable. But if you're hoping this certificate will significantly boost your child's earning power beyond where their bachelor's degree already positions them, the evidence here doesn't support that expectation. This looks more like professional credential maintenance than career investment.