[Community Organization & Advocacy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/community-organization-and-advocacy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for community organization & advocacy students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in community organization & advocacy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Suny Empire State College, our #1 best value for community organization & advocacy in the United States. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Students borrow a median of $29,218 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $45,544 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,218 median debt.
Arizona State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $29,082. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $43,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Phoenix Arizona earned it the #3 place for community organization & advocacy. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,552. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $50,765. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona generally make around $39,269. Set against $50,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #4 place for community organization & advocacy. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $17,750. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $29,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Central Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in community organization & advocacy, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $33,932 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $49,103. That is a strong return on a $33,932 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Black Hills State University earned the #6 position for value in community organization & advocacy this year. Located in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,916 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Students borrow a median of $31,500 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Black Hills State University generally make around $39,092. That is a strong return on a $31,500 median debt. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Siena Heights University landed the #7 spot for community organization & advocacy value this year. Set in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,778. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $29,913. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $34,114. Set against $29,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Siena Heights University admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #8 spot for community organization & advocacy value this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Grand Canyon University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $49,016 in student loans. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $36,445 early in their careers. Set against $49,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Gordon College came in at #10 for value in community organization & advocacy this year. Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Wenham. Students from in state pay about $30,700 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $26,372. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Gordon College earn a median of $37,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gordon College admits about 69% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #11 for value in community organization & advocacy this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $61,009 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Community Organization & Advocacy rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
