Best colleges for Community Organization and Advocacy
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Community Organization and Advocacy by graduate earnings are Northwestern University ($61,009), Central Michigan University ($49,103) and Grand Canyon University ($36,445), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): $61,009, 71 graduates a year
- Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant, MI): $49,103, 126 graduates a year
- Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ): $36,445, 890 graduates a year
- Siena Heights University (Adrian, MI): $34,114, 20 graduates a year
- University of California-Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA): $29,617, 22 graduates a year
Compare 105 U.S. colleges offering Community Organization and Advocacy by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 39 states.
Community Organization and Advocacy programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,269 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 44.02 and the Social and Community Service Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Community Organization and Advocacy programs
The Community Organization and Advocacy program focuses on equipping students with the skills needed to influence public opinion and policy through advocacy. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about social change and community engagement, preparing them to work within various organizations that aim to address social issues and improve community welfare.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework will cover topics in customer service, administration, psychology, and human resources, providing a well-rounded foundation for a career in community organization and advocacy.
Top 13 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,009 | 71 | 95% | $14,799 | $13,500 |
| 2 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,103 | 126 | 59% | — | $33,932 |
| 3 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,445 | 890 | 43% | $21,535 | $49,016 |
| 4 | Siena Heights University Adrian, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,114 | 20 | 39% | $17,015 | $29,913 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,617 | 22 | 75% | — | $17,750 |
| 6 | Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,352 | 3 | 51% | $32,574 | $48,900 |
| 7 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NY Public · Bachelor's degree Degree completion | $45,544 | 299 | 41% | — | $29,218 |
| 8 | Springfield College - Regional, Online, and Continuing Education Springfield, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $44,961 | 80 | — | — | $31,415 |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,160 | 11 | 68% | — | $29,082 |
| 10 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $43,160 | 30 | 0% | — | $29,082 |
| 11 | University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $39,269 | 376 | 21% | $15,478 | $50,765 |
| 12 | Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,092 | 17 | 43% | — | $31,500 |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,161 | 2 | 46% | — | $26,449 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree | $26,312 | 29 | 39% | — | $23,320 |
| 2 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY Public · Associate degree | $33,854 | 71 | 25% | — | $7,860 |
Specializations within Community Organization and Advocacy
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 44.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 39 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9151, Social and Community Service Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Community Organization and Advocacy program can expect a positive job outlook, with a projected growth rate of 6.4% and approximately 18,600 annual openings. Most positions require a Bachelor's degree, and the median wage for professionals in this field is $78,240.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Community Organization and Advocacy
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 44.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 44.02 (Community Organization and Advocacy) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9151 | Social and Community Service Managersprimary |
| 21-1099 | Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other |
| 43-4061 | Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Community Organization and Advocacy programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Community Organization and Advocacy program?+
The program focuses on equipping students with skills to influence public opinion and policy through advocacy.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
Students will learn critical thinking, active listening, communication, and knowledge in administration and psychology.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is positive, with a growth rate of 6.4% and about 18,600 annual openings.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
Most positions require a Bachelor's degree.
How much do Community Organization and Advocacy graduates earn?+
Community Organization and Advocacy graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,269, College Scorecard (2019); the Social and Community Service Managers occupation pays about $88,880 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Community Organization and Advocacy?+
Community Organization and Advocacy maps to CIP 44.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card