by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Community Organization and Advocacy will allow you to make critical social changes in communities to improve the lives of thousands of residents. Studying current trends in social change, history of labor movements, and community development, will prepare you to organize neighborhoods for social action. You will graduate with the ability to develop and implement a diverse set of strategies to challenge and change the current community social system and the lives of its residents.
Coursework focuses on the theories and the practice of providing services that champion the rights of the community. Many of the classes will focus on communication, such as: communication and social movement, political campaign communication, health campaign communication, American political culture and communication, and communication and social movements.
In 2020-2021, community organization and advocacy was the 169th most popular major nationwide with 3,096 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 3,114 graduates the prior year.
Our 2023 Best Community Organization & Advocacy Schools ranking analyzes 45 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for community organization and advocacy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of community organization programs later in this article.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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BS in Business Administration - Organizational Leadership
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It has been said that community organizing is a tool used in culture to rectify the imbalances between the powerful and the powerless. A person who majors in Community Organization and Advocacy should have a strong sense of justice and parity. You should value citizen empowerment, have a passion for bringing social change to a community, and enjoy keeping up with current events.
Before you can make any changes, you must able to accurately assess the problems of the community. This requires the ability to collect and interpret data. Effective public relations and media communication skills are essential, as you will rally people to join social change endeavors. Since these changes often take time and have lots of barriers to overcome, a person who works in this field must be able to have long-term vision and think strategically to solve problems. In addition, you should a basic knowledge of the legislative process and the ability to fundraise.
community organization and advocacy degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific community organization careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Community Organization degree levels vary. Community Organization & Advocacy programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest community organization degree you can get. Different community organization and advocacy degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to community organization, with approximately 39.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to community organization tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 38.8% |
| High School Diploma | 18.4% |
| Master’s Degree | 17.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.2% |
| Some College Courses | 7.6% |
Most workers in community organization have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in community organization and advocacy careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the community organization career you are seeking.
Typically, an organizer job is focused around a specific problem or issue, such as education, health care, or welfare reform. Community organizing and advocacy encompasses a number of jobs, all of which revolve around solving problems for the greater good of the community. You may work as a social worker, volunteer coordinator, communications coordinator, program implementation leader, special problems director, director of events, or director of programming.
Want a job when you graduate with your community organization degree? Community Organization & Advocacy careers are expected to grow 12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to community organization and advocacy.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | 173,800 | 18.0% |
| Government Programs Eligibility Interviewers | 151,600 | 5.9% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists | 113,500 | 13.2% |
Recently graduated community organization and advocacy students earned an average of $38,794 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $23,175 to as high as $115,760. As you might expect, salaries for community organization graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for community organization and advocacy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers community organization grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $71,670 |
| Government Programs Eligibility Interviewers | $46,480 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists | $46,050 |
With over 196 different community organization degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased community organization school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Community Organization & Advocacy that might interest you.
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BS in Criminal Justice - Human Services & Advocacy
Help people connect with the resources they need. This comprehensive online bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University was built to teach you how to bridge the gap between families, law enforcement and the community.
One of 5 majors within the Public Administration & Social Service area of study, Community Organization & Advocacy has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,326 |
| Public Administration | 16,905 |
| Human Services | 13,238 |
| Public Policy | 6,430 |
| Other Public Administration | 588 |
