ROI Major

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other at Virginia Intermont College

VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 30.99

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other degree from Virginia Intermont College earn a median salary of $43,811 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $42,742. The degree typically pays for itself in 24 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

$35,975

Typical Career

$43,811

Top Performers

$50,552

Estimated break-even: 24 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$292

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,651. Most students can comfortably afford about a $292 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 26.5%
Health Care & Social Assistance 11.3%
Manufacturing 8.7%

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

$42,742

Nominal: $43,811 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% 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).

24 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 $24,926 $33,078 $41,100
5 Years After Graduation $35,975 $43,811 $50,552
10 Years After Graduation $41,165 $47,443 $53,705

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 $43,811 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $43,811 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250) = $42,742 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates of the Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies program at Virginia Intermont College can expect a gradual increase in earnings over time. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $33,078, which rises to $43,811 after five years and further to $47,443 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equates to approximately $42,742.44 nationally, reflecting the impact of the cost of living in Virginia, which has a COL index of 1.025 compared to the national average.

The primary industries employing graduates include Educational Services (26.5%), Health Care & Social Assistance (11.3%), and Manufacturing (8.7%). Given the estimated break-even point of around 24 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for this degree may be considered moderate. While the earnings trajectory shows potential growth, the lengthy break-even period suggests that students should weigh their career aspirations and financial goals carefully before committing to this field of study.

Compare with Another School

See how the Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other degree at Virginia Intermont College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

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Other Degrees at Virginia Intermont College

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.