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Community Organization and Advocacy

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Community Organization and Advocacy

Community Organization and Advocacy graduates earn $51,936 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,324 and $67,543. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Community Organization and Advocacy

This page covers Community Organization and Advocacy as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Public Administration and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Community Organization and Advocacy is a focused area of study within Public Administration. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $51,936 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 152 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,557 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The curriculum blends analytical and applied coursework aimed at the workplace.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $42,073
Median Earnings · 4yr: $51,936
Colleges Offering: 152
Graduates / Year: 2,557
Avg Net Price / yr: $17,506

How Much Do Community Organization and Advocacy Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Community Organization and Advocacy, a typical graduate earns $51,936, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $37,324 and $67,543, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$42,073

1 Year After Graduation

Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.

$51,936

4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$52,573

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Community Organization and Advocacy graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Industry and seniority explain most of the spread. Finance, consulting, and strategy roles pull the top end up; operations and administrative roles sit at the bottom.

$37,324 25th pct.

$51,936 Median

$67,543 75th pct.

A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $51,936 and an estimated $70,024 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.2 years.

Based on outcomes from 78 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 2,557 students who complete Community Organization and Advocacy programs each year, the majority (63%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

63%

Bachelor's 63%

Master's 19%

Associate's 10%

What Can You Do With a Community Organization and Advocacy Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Community Organization and Advocacy graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Social and Community Service Managers pay the most at $80,390/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Social and Community Service Managers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +7.2% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Social and Community Service Managers

$80,390

$64K $103K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 18,500 openings/yr 209K employed nationally

Social Perceptiveness Service Orientation Active Listening Monitoring Coordination

Day-to-day responsibilities

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.

↗ +1.6% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Eligibility Interviewers

$54,210

$46K $64K 25th–75th pct.

High school diploma or equivalent 12,700 openings/yr 155K employed nationally

Speaking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Social Perceptiveness Writing

Day-to-day responsibilities

Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.

Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.

Top Colleges for Community Organization and Advocacy

Not sure where to study Community Organization and Advocacy? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Grand Canyon University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ · Nonprofit	377	78.9%	$22,472	$42,186
2	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI · Public	107	89.8%	$17,597	$55,874
3	CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY · Public	98	Open	$4,976	$42,306
4	Northwestern University Evanston, IL · Nonprofit	94	7.7%	$29,167	$89,363
5	Louisiana State University-Shreveport Shreveport, LA · Public	82	50.6%	$7,022	$47,477
6	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Public	72	76.4%	$11,668	$55,198
7	Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI · Public	49	Open	$3,249	$39,449
8	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public	32	15.6%	$13,138	$83,648
9	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA · Public	31	65.8%	$17,890	$68,396
10	Clark University Worcester, MA · Nonprofit	30	39.5%	$28,714	$62,381
11	Prescott College Prescott, AZ · Nonprofit	29	94.5%	$22,583	$42,359
12	New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit	26	9.2%	$37,050	$82,509
13	Portland State University Portland, OR · Public	25	90.9%	$9,552	$57,906
14	Brandeis University Waltham, MA · Nonprofit	25	40.5%	$35,736	$77,231
15	Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD · Public	25	96.3%	$15,911	$46,674
16	Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA · Public	23	91.2%	$19,550	$63,435
17	Siena Heights University Adrian, MI · Nonprofit	21	68.9%	$17,124	$57,529
18	Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA · Public	20	Open	$9,705	$41,016
19	Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA · Public	18	Open	$11,171	$41,018
20	Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN · Nonprofit	18	5.9%	$15,846	$91,565

View all colleges

Ranked by Community Organization and Advocacy graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Community Organization and Advocacy program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Community Organization and Advocacy degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Community Organization and Advocacy Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Community Organization and Advocacy shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +7.2% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 31,200 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Modest median earnings Four-year median of $51,936 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($37,324) and 75th ($67,543) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Community Organization and Advocacy Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Community Organization and Advocacy graduates earn?

$51,936 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $37,324 and $67,543, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Community Organization and Advocacy degree?

$42,073 in the first year out. That grows to $51,936 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Community Organization and Advocacy degree?

Social and Community Service Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $80,390 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Community Organization and Advocacy program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Community Organization and Advocacy bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Community Organization and Advocacy?

152 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Community Organization and Advocacy degree worth it?

$51,936 median earnings four years out against $17,506 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Community Organization and Advocacy and Public Administration?

Community Organization and Advocacy is the narrower of the two: Public Administration covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Community Organization and Advocacy-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Community Organization and Advocacy graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Community Organization and Advocacy graduates consistently look for financial analysis, communication, project management, and strategic thinking. Internship experience and proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or business software tend to set candidates apart. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

Is graduate school worth it for Community Organization and Advocacy graduates?

It depends on the program. An MBA or specialized master's can boost earnings and open paths into management and strategy roles, but the return is strongest at selective schools with strong recruiting pipelines, not everywhere. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.

What is the job outlook for Community Organization and Advocacy graduates?

Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Social and Community Service Managers are among the strongest-growth roles at +7.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.