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Major · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

A catch-all category for programs that cross disciplinary lines

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other is a CIP catch-all covering programs that combine two or more fields in ways that don't fit a named interdisciplinary category. About 22,700 degrees are awarded annually across 765 colleges. The bachelor's/associate's earnings gap is narrow, suggesting most graduates enter similar entry-level roles regardless of degree level.

Schools offering
765
Annual completions
22,721
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$57k

About this major

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other is a residual CIP category — it captures undergraduate programs that combine two or more disciplines in ways that don't fit any of the named interdisciplinary majors in the 30.xx family. The CIP definition is deliberately broad: any instructional program in multi/interdisciplinary studies not listed above. In practice, that means the curriculum is institution-defined and varies significantly from one school to the next. At one college this might mean a self-designed major combining sociology and environmental studies; at another it might be an administrative label for a flexible completion pathway. The connective tissue across programs is cross-disciplinary integration, but the depth, rigor, and occupational relevance of that integration depend entirely on the specific institution and student design.

The data profile reflects that undifferentiation. About 22,721 degrees are awarded annually across 765 colleges — a large spread, which tells you this code catches a lot of very different programs. Five-year median earnings sit at $56,516, with a narrow gap between degree levels: bachelor's completers earn about $57,434 and associate's completers about $51,860. That $5,574 difference is small compared to career-oriented fields, where the bachelor's premium commonly runs $20,000 or more. It suggests that most graduates under this label, regardless of degree level, are entering similar undifferentiated roles rather than a clear occupational track.

Related majors in the same CIP family tell a more structured story. Biological and Physical Sciences (CIP 30.0101, 25,374 completions) combines science disciplines with a clearer research or pre-professional identity. Mathematics and Computer Science (CIP 30.0801, 1,125 completions) targets a recognizable technical combination. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General (CIP 30.0000, 8,996 completions) is still flexible but better recognized as a named standalone program. Students who are weighing this major should treat those alternatives as meaningful comparisons — the career outcomes and credential recognition differ, even within the same concentration.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

No federal crosswalk data available for this major yet.

Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$57k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$52k

Bachelor's

$57k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are designing a self-directed undergraduate curriculum at a school that requires an administrative home for non-standard combinations, if you are completing a degree for credential or advancement purposes while your career work is happening through practical experience alongside the coursework, or if you are a community college student using an associate's as a transfer stepping stone and this label fits the flexible pathway your institution offers. You may also fit here if your educational goal is explicitly about building cross-disciplinary thinking rather than entering a specific occupational pipeline — and you are prepared for the reality that the five-year median earnings of $56,516 reflect the absence of a targeted career track.

Think twice if your primary goal is a terminal bachelor's that opens a specific job market — the narrow bachelor's/associate's earnings gap ($57,434 versus $51,860) signals that this credential does not create differentiated career access the way named programs do. Think twice if you expect strong employer recognition of the degree title, since the "Other" classification makes it harder to explain the credential to recruiters than a named interdisciplinary major. And think twice if graduate or professional school is your plan and your target programs will scrutinize your undergraduate preparation closely — named majors like Biological and Physical Sciences or Mathematics and Computer Science from the same CIP family will often provide a stronger foundation and clearer academic narrative.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 312 1,387 1,699
Fullerton College Fullerton, CA 1,110 0 1,110
Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX 0 594 594
University of North Texas Denton, TX 0 557 557
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 0 543 543
Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ 69 352 421
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN 0 402 402
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX 0 359 359
East Texas A&M University Commerce, TX 0 334 334
Lamar University Beaumont, TX 0 327 327
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Biological and Physical Sciences

25,374 completions/yr

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General

8,996 completions/yr

Mathematics and Computer Science

1,125 completions/yr

Systems Science and Theory

472 completions/yr

Area Studies, Other

451 completions/yr

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

314 completions/yr

Biopsychology

189 completions/yr

Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Program

24 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other programs actually look like?
The curriculum varies widely because this CIP code is a residual category — it captures programs that combine multiple disciplines in ways that don't match any named interdisciplinary major. Students might combine humanities and social sciences, or mix applied and theoretical fields. The institution decides what the program looks like, so two degrees under this label at different schools may share little coursework in common. The connective tissue is integration across fields rather than depth in any single discipline.
Does getting a bachelor's in this field pay off significantly more than an associate's?
The earnings gap here is small. Five-year median earnings for bachelor's completers run about $57,434, versus $51,860 for associate's completers — a difference of roughly $5,574 per year. That is substantially narrower than career-specific fields, where bachelor's premiums often exceed $20,000–$40,000 annually. The narrow gap suggests most graduates, regardless of degree level, land in similar entry-level roles — the credential itself doesn't open a clearly differentiated job market.
What kinds of jobs do graduates in this field actually end up in?
The data packet does not list direct career destinations for this major — which is itself informative. Unlike Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering, where a clear occupational cluster follows the degree, multi-/interdisciplinary studies graduates disperse broadly across sectors depending on what they chose to combine. Five-year median earnings sit at $56,516, which is below the national median for bachelor's degrees and reflects the lack of a targeted occupational pipeline. Graduates who perform best typically combine this credential with work experience, graduate study, or a clear applied specialty from their coursework.
Is this major mainly useful as a transfer stepping stone?
For community college students, yes, it often functions that way. Fullerton College — one of the top completers — awarded 1,110 associate's degrees under this code, most likely as a flexible credential for students in transition. The related majors in the same CIP family — Biological and Physical Sciences (25,374 completions), Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General (8,996 completions), and Mathematics and Computer Science (1,125 completions) — each offer more structure and stronger career signals. If the goal is transfer into a four-year program, this credential can serve as a placeholder. If the goal is a terminal degree with career utility, those named programs are a better choice.
When does choosing this major make sense versus picking a named interdisciplinary program?
It makes sense if your institution doesn't offer the specific interdisciplinary combination you want and this label is the closest fit, or if you're designing a self-directed program and this is the administrative home it falls under. It also makes sense if you're completing a degree for credential purposes while your real career work is happening alongside the coursework. The related majors worth comparing include Biological and Physical Sciences (25,374 completions), which has a more defined science foundation, and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General (8,996 completions), which is still flexible but better recognized as a standalone program.
What's a realistic earnings picture after graduating with this degree?
Five-year median earnings sit at $56,516 across degree levels — $57,434 for bachelor's completers and $51,860 for associate's completers. Those numbers are below median earnings for career-focused bachelor's programs, which frequently land between $65,000 and $105,000 at the five-year mark. Graduate school or professional school after this credential tends to reshape the earnings trajectory more than the credential itself. The degree functions better as a foundation for further education than as a standalone terminal credential if earnings growth is the primary goal.