[Community Organization & Advocacy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/community-organization-and-advocacy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 163 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.
For return on investment in community organization & advocacy, no school beat Suny Empire State College this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, 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.
Students looking for strong value in community organization & advocacy will find it at Arizona State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $29,082 in student loans. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $43,160. Set against $29,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $22,250. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $34,020. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $29,617. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Phoenix Arizona one of the best values for community organization & advocacy. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,552. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $50,765 in student loans. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $39,269. That is a strong return on a $50,765 median debt.
Central Michigan University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,932 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $49,103. That is a strong return on a $33,932 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Black Hills State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Located in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $31,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Siena Heights University placed #8 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Set in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,778 in tuition and fees. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $29,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $34,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Cortland ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,874, while out-of-state students pay about $18,784. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $25,369. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $38,709. That is a strong return on a $25,369 median debt. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #10 position for value in community organization & advocacy this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $55,861. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University came in at #11 for value in community organization & advocacy this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $49,016. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $36,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College landed the #12 spot for community organization & advocacy value this year. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. 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. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Northwestern University placed #13 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $13,500. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $61,009. 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), 2026 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 · 163 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
