ROI Major

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other at University of Colorado Denver

CO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 30.99

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other degree from University of Colorado Denver earn a median salary of $49,369 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $46,973. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.5 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 bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$37,955

Typical Career

$49,369

Top Performers

$61,279

Estimated break-even: 11.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$329

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,114. Most students can comfortably afford about a $329 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 23.4%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 13.9%
Educational Services 10.5%

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

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$46,973

Nominal: $49,369 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% 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).

11.5 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 $27,955 $38,141 $49,247
5 Years After Graduation $37,955 $49,369 $61,279
10 Years After Graduation $47,005 $63,249 $83,767

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 $49,369 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,369 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510) = $46,973 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Colorado Denver experience a steady earnings trajectory. One year post-graduation, the median earnings stand at $38,141, increasing to $49,369 after five years and reaching $63,249 by the ten-year mark. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at approximately $46,973.36, indicating that while the cost of living in Colorado is slightly higher than the national average, the earnings potential remains competitive.

The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (23.4%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (13.9%), and Educational Services (10.5%). This diverse range of sectors suggests that a degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies can lead to various career paths. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 11.5 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for those pursuing this degree, especially considering the potential for growth in earnings over time.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

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

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.

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