ROI Major

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other at Southern Oregon University

OR · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 30.99

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other degree from Southern Oregon University earn a median salary of $59,848 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $52,360. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.7 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$37,420

Typical Career

$59,848

Top Performers

$89,880

Estimated break-even: 13.7 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$399

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,987. Most students can comfortably afford about a $399 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 19.1%
Health Care & Social Assistance 18.0%
Public Administration 10.1%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$52,360

Nominal: $59,848 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

13.7 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $23,172 $33,449 $48,579
5 Years After Graduation $37,420 $59,848 $89,880
10 Years After Graduation $38,050 $49,731 $67,570

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $59,848 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $59,848 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430) = $52,360 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies program at Southern Oregon University experience a varied earnings trajectory. One year after graduation, median earnings stand at $33,449, which increases to $59,848 five years post-graduation. However, by the ten-year mark, median earnings decrease to $49,731. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns more closely with the national equivalent at approximately $52,360.45, reflecting the impact of the cost of living in Oregon, which has a COL index of 1.143 compared to the national average.

The top industries for graduates include Educational Services (19.1%), Health Care & Social Assistance (18.0%), and Public Administration (10.1%), indicating a strong presence in sectors that often prioritize interdisciplinary skills. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 13.7 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment. Overall, while the program offers diverse career opportunities, prospective students should weigh the earnings potential against the time required to recoup educational costs.

Compare with Another School

See how the Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other degree at Southern Oregon University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Ready to apply?

Start your application for Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other at Southern Oregon University.

Apply to Southern Oregon University

Explore More

Other Degrees at Southern Oregon University

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.