TopUniversitiesUSA

50 Best Public PhD Interdisciplinary Studies Universities in the USA

Compare 72 programs at 50 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

50 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1
UC University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, California · Public University · Est. 1965

US #4 QS World #189 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$14,251/yr
Admission rate
29%
Earnings (10yr)
$80,735
Students
30,197
2
UC University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California · Public University · Est. 1891

US #5 QS World #200 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$16,109/yr
Admission rate
33%
Earnings (10yr)
$74,915
Students
23,113
3
RU Rutgers University-New Brunswick logo

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey · Public University · Est. 1766

US #6 QS World #217 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$24,406/yr
Admission rate
58%
Earnings (10yr)
$74,479
Students
37,751
4
UC University of California-Santa Cruz logo

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California · Public University · Est. 1965

US #12 QS World #380 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$17,890/yr
Admission rate
66%
Earnings (10yr)
$68,396
Students
17,940
5
UA University at Buffalo logo

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York · Public University · Est. 1846

US #21 QS World #521 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$20,995/yr
Admission rate
74%
Earnings (10yr)
$70,814
Students
20,112
6
UN University of Nebraska-Lincoln logo

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska · Public University · Est. 1869

US #33 QS World #651 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$17,747/yr
Admission rate
87%
Earnings (10yr)
$56,887
Students
19,178
7
UO University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus logo

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, Oklahoma · Public University · Est. 1890

US #34 QS World #701 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$15,300/yr
Admission rate
77%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,126
Students
22,734
8
UM University of Minnesota-Twin Cities logo

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota · Public University · Est. 1851

US #37 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$16,778/yr
Admission rate
80%
Earnings (10yr)
$69,020
Students
31,855
9
UW University of Washington-Seattle Campus logo

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, Washington · Public University · Est. 1861

US #38 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$14,091/yr
Admission rate
39%
Earnings (10yr)
$78,466
Students
31,942
10
UA University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #39 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$16,674/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$59,979
Students
42,537
11
UW University of Wisconsin-Madison logo

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1848

US #44 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$17,354/yr
Admission rate
45%
Earnings (10yr)
$73,792
Students
36,902
12
OS Ohio State University-Main Campus logo

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1870

US #46 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$17,339/yr
Admission rate
61%
Earnings (10yr)
$60,409
Students
45,638
13
UK University of Kansas logo

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1864

US #50 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$18,059/yr
Admission rate
93%
Earnings (10yr)
$61,945
Students
21,217
14
UN University of Nevada-Las Vegas logo

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada · Public University · Est. 1957

US #52 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$10,359/yr
Admission rate
96%
Earnings (10yr)
$55,037
Students
24,622
15
UM University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1817

US #53 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$13,138/yr
Admission rate
16%
Earnings (10yr)
$83,648
Students
34,177
16
OU Ohio University-Main Campus logo

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1804

US #59 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$21,637/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$52,581
Students
19,633
17
UI University of Iowa logo

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa · Public University · Est. 1847

US #64 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$22,531/yr
Admission rate
84%
Earnings (10yr)
$64,762
Students
22,264
18
WS Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington · Public University · Est. 1959

US #75 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$14,971/yr
Admission rate
87%
Earnings (10yr)
$68,905
Students
21,099
19
NC North Carolina State University at Raleigh logo

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina · Public University · Est. 1887

US #76 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$17,303/yr
Admission rate
42%
Earnings (10yr)
$68,758
Students
27,371
20
UW University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee logo

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1885

US #81 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$15,014/yr
Admission rate
91%
Earnings (10yr)
$54,990
Students
16,758
21
VC Virginia Commonwealth University logo

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia · Public University · Est. 1968

US #83 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$23,433/yr
Admission rate
93%
Earnings (10yr)
$58,128
Students
20,753
22
IU Indiana University-Indianapolis logo

Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana · Public University · Est. 2023

US #86 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$11,668/yr
Admission rate
76%
Earnings (10yr)
$55,198
Students
13,830
23
UC University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, California · Public University · Est. 1868

US #90 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$13,481/yr
Admission rate
11%
Earnings (10yr)
$92,446
Students
33,068
24
UC University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California · Public University · Est. 1919

US #95 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$12,548/yr
Admission rate
9%
Earnings (10yr)
$82,511
Students
33,475

What this subject pays

Graduates of Interdisciplinary Studies programmes report a median $33,993 two years after finishing, across 302 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $25,475.

Interdisciplinary Studies pay by degree level →

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for public PhD Interdisciplinary Studies universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include University of California-Irvine, University of California-Santa Barbara, Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study public PhD Interdisciplinary Studies universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying public PhD Interdisciplinary Studies universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About public PhD Interdisciplinary Studies universities in the USA

This page lists public PhD Interdisciplinary Studies universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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