Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at University of Northwestern-St Paul

Northwestern-St Paul's interdisciplinary program produces earnings well below what Minnesota families should expect from this degree. At $31,828 after one year, graduates earn roughly $10,000 less than the state median for this program and trail behind five other Minnesota schools—including the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where graduates earn $54,656. While the debt load of $18,000 is manageable, it still represents 57% of first-year earnings, a ratio that signals limited financial runway for recent graduates.

The 25th percentile ranking among Minnesota programs deserves attention. In a state where the median interdisciplinary studies graduate earns over $42,000, this program delivers significantly less economic value. The low debt helps prevent a disastrous outcome, but graduating with below-market earnings puts students at a competitive disadvantage when applying for jobs or apartments. The program's 92% admission rate and relatively low percentage of Pell recipients (15%) suggests this isn't about serving a challenging student population—it's simply underperforming compared to in-state alternatives.

One important caveat: the sample size is small, meaning these numbers could shift considerably year to year. However, unless your child has specific reasons to attend Northwestern-St Paul, Metropolitan State or the University of Minnesota system offer interdisciplinary programs with substantially stronger earnings outcomes at similar or even lower debt levels. The data suggests looking elsewhere within Minnesota.