Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at University of Maryland-College Park

A $25,000 debt load for first-year earnings around $38,000 lands this program squarely in the middle of what similar interdisciplinary studies programs deliver nationwide. Both figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions—the small graduate cohort means the Department of Education suppressed actual outcomes—but they align closely with the national medians for this field ($38,704 in earnings, $25,495 in debt). The 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, though parents should recognize that interdisciplinary studies degrees serve vastly different career paths depending on how students structure their coursework.

What complicates the picture is Maryland's own benchmark: the state median debt for these programs sits at $21,250, roughly $4,000 less than what comparable programs to UMD suggest graduates here might carry. Meanwhile, earnings appear consistent across the state's programs, with Johns Hopkins graduates earning about $8,500 more but likely benefiting from different networks and curriculum focuses rather than the credential itself. The value proposition here depends heavily on what interdisciplinary combination your student pursues and whether they're positioning for graduate school or direct employment.

If your student has a clear plan for how this degree connects to their career goals—combining fields in strategic ways or preparing for specific graduate programs—the estimated debt burden won't derail them. If they're choosing interdisciplinary studies without that roadmap, press them to articulate exactly what skills and marketability this combination will provide.