By BVS Staff
Online interdisciplinary studies degree programs may be a perfect option for students who are unsure of what their career interests are. Plenty of universities offer degrees in topics such as "Interdisciplinary Studies," which can help you explore your interests while still making yourself marketable in the job pool. Interdisciplinary Studies majors learn about everything from writing and communication to business and information technology, and are sometimes given the flexibility to create a curriculum consisting of two or three specific topics they love.
Many online colleges offer Interdisciplinary Studies degrees because it is fairly easy to find an entire curriculum of classes in this major that can be delivered via distance education. You'll use platforms like Blackboard to complete assignments and communicate with professors and classmates via discussion boards, email, virtual office hours, web chats, and more. This format is the perfect solution for busy adult learners who wouldn't otherwise have the time to attend college.
Our cheap online college ranking is another resource you may want to check out.
Note: This article may contain sponsored links. These are designed to help you connect with programs easily.
The 30 Best Online General Studies Degrees Ranking Methodology
Selection Criteria
For this ranking, we focused on public and private (non-profit) colleges and universities that offer interdisciplinary degrees online. Because the focus of this list is on affordability, we only considered programs with average* tuition rates of $20,000/year or less.
*For public schools, we calculated the average value of their in-state and out-of-state rates.
Ranking Factors
After compiling a list of all the colleges that offer online interdisciplinary studies degrees and meet the above criteria, we then collected data in four categories:
Program Popularity: How many undergraduates choose to earn their degree in interdisciplinary studies over a more traditional major? To find out, we looked at both the number of students who earned their bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary/general studies in the most recent school year as well as the percentage of all bachelor's degree graduates that that number represents.
Overall Online Program Strength: How many online bachelor's degrees does the school offer? Having more programs available online means more course options (as well as resources and experienced faculty) for interdisciplinary studies majors who want to earn their degree at a distance.
Academic Variety: How many different academic disciplines or concentrations does the school offer as part of its interdisciplinary studies program?
Affordability: What is the average annual cost of attendance?
After collecting and sorting all the information, we ranked the candidates according to their performance in each area. Finally, we summed up the results and gave each school a final score using a curve so that the top-scoring program earned an even 100 points.
Read more about the best cheap online interdisciplinary studies degree programs below!
Cheap Online Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Programs Ranked
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
Thanks for reading our ranking of the 30 top cheap interdisciplinary degrees online!
Sources:
IPEDS Data Center
College Navigator
