[Community Organization & Advocacy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/community-organization-and-advocacy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong community organization & advocacy education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value community organization & advocacy schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the community organization & advocacy degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in community organization & advocacy, no school beat Louisiana State University Shreveport this year. Located in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,327. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $28,907 in student loans. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $45,300. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in community organization & advocacy will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $51,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value community organization & advocacy schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Murray State University earned it the #4 place for community organization & advocacy. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $43,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in community organization & advocacy will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $13,975. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $48,154. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University placed #6 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $50,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University came in at #7 for value in community organization & advocacy this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Students borrow a median of $30,822 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $54,195 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,822 median debt. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Capella University placed #8 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $50,009. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #9 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $26,062. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $72,426. Set against $26,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Prescott College placed #10 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Located in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,490. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $27,230. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Prescott College earn a median of $44,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,230 median debt. Prescott College admits about 94% of applicants.
Clark University placed #11 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Clark University earn a median of $51,055 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,153 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Merrimack College earned the #12 position for value in community organization & advocacy this year. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. In-state tuition and fees average $53,962. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $26,913. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $48,302 early in their careers. Set against $26,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Explore the best-value community organization & advocacy schools at other degree levels:
View All Community Organization & Advocacy Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 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.
