Community Organization and Advocacy: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 27 reporting college programs.
−$199,980 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,136
- Federal debt
- $5,988
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,552
- Federal debt
- $13,805
- Reporting programs
- 12
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,066
- Federal debt
- $29,566
- Reporting programs
- 27
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,839
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwestern University$84,7122Elon University$64,0113Albertus Magnus College$62,0354University of Massachusetts-Boston$60,4405Central Michigan University$58,3446Empire State University$56,8257University of California, Santa Cruz$56,6208Arizona State University Campus Immersion$55,4519Arizona State University Digital Immersion$55,45110Metropolitan College of New York$55,162Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $84,712 | $13,500 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $64,011 | Not available | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Albertus Magnus CollegeBachelor's Degree | New Haven, CT | $62,035 | $48,900 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $60,440 | Not available | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $58,344 | $33,932 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Empire State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $56,825 | $29,218 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $56,620 | $17,750 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $55,451 | $29,082 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $55,451 | $29,082 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 10 | Metropolitan College of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $55,162 | $44,500 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Springfield CollegeBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MA | $54,080 | $31,415 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Springfield College-Regional Online and Continuing EducationBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MA | $54,080 | $31,415 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $51,066 | $22,250 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | California State University, Dominguez HillsBachelor's Degree | Carson, CA | $50,686 | $16,500 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaBachelor's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $50,315 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Boricua CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $49,778 | $10,650 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Southern Arkansas University Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Magnolia, AR | $48,773 | Not available | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $46,973 | $49,016 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $46,812 | $26,449 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Siena Heights UniversityBachelor's Degree | Adrian, MI | $46,554 | $29,913 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Aquinas CollegeBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $44,910 | Not available | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Black Hills State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spearfish, SD | $42,781 | $31,500 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Middle Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | $40,971 | $31,981 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $40,810 | $50,765 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Anna Maria CollegeBachelor's Degree | Paxton, MA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $28,333 |
| 26 | Siena UniversityBachelor's Degree | Loudonville, NY | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $33,733 |
| 27 | University of Phoenix-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | , | $40,810 | $50,765 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.