[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment 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 Des Moines Area Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $23,320 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $26,312. Set against $23,320 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan State University earned it the #2 place for community organization & advocacy. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Students borrow a median of $30,822 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $54,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Black Hills State University one of the best values for community organization & advocacy. 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, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $31,500. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Black Hills State University generally make around $39,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capella University earned it the #4 place for community organization & advocacy. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $35,998. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $50,009. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
