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HUMANITIES
Interdisciplinary Studies
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Interdisciplinary Studies
Wondering whether Interdisciplinary Studies is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what a Computer & Information Systems Manager earns and how the role is projected to grow.
Design your own academic path combining two or more fields. Ideal for students whose interests don't fit inside a single department. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $55,693, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,866 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 123,205 students complete a degree in this area every year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $35,905
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $55,693
- Colleges Offering
- 1,866
- Graduates / Year
- 123,205
- Specializations
- 46
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $16,748
Is an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Right for You?
$55,693
Median earnings · 4yr
+15.8%
10yr job growth
46
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~2.6
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
Solid ROI. Median earnings of $55,693 after 4 years. Against an estimated $66,992 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Interdisciplinary Studies Majors Earn?
Pay for Interdisciplinary Studies graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $35,905 one year after graduation, rising to $55,693 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,866 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$35,905
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$55,693
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$56,440
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Interdisciplinary Studies specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $118,943/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $36,787/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$36,787
Lowest
$55,693
Median
$118,943
Highest
What Can You Do With an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree?
Career Paths for Interdisciplinary Studies Graduates
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Computer & Information Systems Manager pays the most among them at a median $175,140 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.
Another common path leads to what Natural Sciences Managers typically earn and how the field is trending.
Computer & Information Systems Manager
Bachelor's degree
$175,140
↗ +15.8% growth
Natural Sciences Managers
Bachelor's degree
$167,220
↗ +8.2% growth
Financial Manager
Bachelor's degree
$166,570
↗ +9.7% growth
Political Scientist
Master's degree
$142,080
↘ -2.0% growth
Computer & Information Research Scientist
Master's degree
$140,300
↗ +21.8% growth
Database Architects
Bachelor's degree
$139,500
↗ +9.4% growth
Software Developer
Bachelor's degree
$135,980
↗ +10.2% growth
Law Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$128,500
↗ +2.6% growth
Interdisciplinary Studies Specializations
Which specialization you pick inside Interdisciplinary Studies matters more than usual here. Interdisciplinary Studies breaks into 39 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $36,787 to $118,943 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Mathematics and Computer Science program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Interdisciplinary Studies
These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Interdisciplinary Studies, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Liberty University.
1
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99%
Net price/yr
$29,357
Earnings 10yr
$44,813
Grad rate
34%
2
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
Acceptance
26.7%
Net price/yr
$12,470
Earnings 10yr
$84,943
Grad rate
86%
3
Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public
Acceptance
54.7%
Net price/yr
$9,288
Earnings 10yr
$60,249
Grad rate
54%
4
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID · Nonprofit
Acceptance
95.8%
Net price/yr
$8,221
Earnings 10yr
$53,406
Grad rate
46%
5
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
4%
Net price/yr
$21,590
Earnings 10yr
$102,491
Grad rate
79%
6
University of North Texas
Denton, TX · Public
Acceptance
72.2%
Net price/yr
$15,649
Earnings 10yr
$57,010
Grad rate
57%
7
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public
Acceptance
57.4%
Net price/yr
$21,315
Earnings 10yr
$72,097
Grad rate
80%
8
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · Public
Acceptance
40.1%
Net price/yr
$10,411
Earnings 10yr
$58,308
Grad rate
55%
9
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public
Acceptance
15.6%
Net price/yr
$13,138
Earnings 10yr
$83,648
Grad rate
90%
10
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$3,864
Earnings 10yr
$43,937
Grad rate
11%
11
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
Acceptance
79.8%
Net price/yr
$16,778
Earnings 10yr
$69,020
Grad rate
75%
12
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
5.4%
Net price/yr
$28,699
Earnings 10yr
$111,371
Grad rate
84%
13
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public
Acceptance
65.1%
Net price/yr
$18,267
Earnings 10yr
$68,227
Grad rate
67%
14
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public
Acceptance
83.6%
Net price/yr
$22,531
Earnings 10yr
$64,762
Grad rate
66%
15
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public
Acceptance
26.6%
Net price/yr
$19,857
Earnings 10yr
$75,121
Grad rate
81%
16
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public
Acceptance
15.3%
Net price/yr
$11,655
Earnings 10yr
$72,200
Grad rate
87%
17
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public
Acceptance
45.2%
Net price/yr
$17,354
Earnings 10yr
$73,792
Grad rate
75%
18
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.8%
Net price/yr
$32,740
Earnings 10yr
$92,498
Grad rate
88%
19
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
Acceptance
89.9%
Net price/yr
$14,967
Earnings 10yr
$62,668
Grad rate
59%
20
Mt San Jacinto Community College District
San Jacinto, CA · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$6,806
Earnings 10yr
$38,319
Grad rate
5%
Ranked by number of Interdisciplinary Studies graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Interdisciplinary Studies Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Interdisciplinary Studies degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if an Interdisciplinary Studies degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Interdisciplinary Studies Degree: Pros & Cons
Weigh the financial trade-offs in Interdisciplinary Studies carefully before committing to it. The 4 strengths and 3 concerns below come from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts, so you can see exactly what is driving the caution.
PROS
- Above-average earnings Four-year median of $55,693 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science fields.
- Growing field Top career paths show up to +21.8% projected 10-year growth per BLS, including Computer & Information Research Scientist.
- Wide availability Offered at 1,866 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- High-earning specializations available Top specializations report median earnings of $118,943, creating strong upside for students who choose a high-demand track.
CONS
- Declining roles in some areas 1 related career within this field show negative 10-year employment projections per BLS. Research specific roles carefully before committing.
- Highly competitive job market Approximately 123,205 students graduate in this field each year, one of the highest volumes among all majors.
- High variance across specializations The gap between the lowest-paying ($36,787) and highest-paying ($118,943) specializations is large. Choosing a lower-demand track significantly reduces expected returns.
Interdisciplinary Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earn?
$55,693 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Interdisciplinary Studies degree?
About $35,905 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within Interdisciplinary Studies you picked. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree?
More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Computer & Information Systems Manager pays the most among related roles, at a median $175,140 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.
How many colleges offer Interdisciplinary Studies?
1,866 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Interdisciplinary Studies degree worth it?
For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $55,693 against an average net price of roughly $16,748 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.
How long does it take to earn an Interdisciplinary Studies degree?
Four years for a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at the normal full-time pace, or two years for an associate version at a community college. Part-time or online study stretches that timeline out, and transfer credits can shorten it.
What skills do employers look for in Interdisciplinary Studies graduates?
Employers hiring Interdisciplinary Studies graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, research, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Interdisciplinary Studies graduates?
Outlook is strong: related occupations project an average of +9.5% growth over the next decade. Computer & Information Research Scientist leads the group at +21.8%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.
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