[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for community organization & advocacy students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in community organization & advocacy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #1 spot for value among community organization & advocacy schools in the Great Lakes Region. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in community organization & advocacy, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for community organization & advocacy graduates is $23,146. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $56,930 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kellogg Community College earned it the #3 place for community organization & advocacy. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,118, with out-of-state students paying around $8,282. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $32,616. Set against $20,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #4 place for community organization & advocacy. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $51,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Central Michigan University one of the best values for community organization & advocacy. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $33,932 in student loans. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $49,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Cleveland State University placed #6 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $56,061. That is a strong return on a $26,336 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Siena Heights University landed the #7 spot for community organization & advocacy value this year. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,778. Students borrow a median of $29,913 to complete the community organization & advocacy program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Northwestern University earned the #8 position 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. Early-career community organization & advocacy graduates make about $95,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #9 among the best values for community organization & advocacy. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Community Organization & Advocacy graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community organization & advocacy degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. That is a strong return on a $25,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
