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Community Organization and Advocacy at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,020/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk High (36% exposed)

Job Market Large (45,700 openings/yr)

ROI 11.8x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #16 of 21 Community Organization and Advocacy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Community Organization and Advocacy graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$532K	$529K	$501K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.8x	11.8x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	65%	52%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	33	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,952

Out-of-state: $120,552 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,728

-15% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

6.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,265

48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Portland State University's Community Organization and Advocacy graduates start at $34,020/yr, trailing the $40,816 national average by 17%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Community Organization and Advocacy programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Community Organization and Advocacy's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $34,020 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #16 of 21 Community Organization and Advocacy programs, Portland State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $34,020 to $50,265 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Portland State University

A 91% acceptance rate means Portland State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 13,619 students in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →

Top Career Paths

Social and community service managers $78,240/yr

Community and social service specialists, all other $54,940/yr

Eligibility interviewers, government programs $51,500/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Community Organization and Advocacy at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Community Organization and Advocacy at Portland State University?

A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Community Organization and Advocacy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Community Organization and Advocacy careers?

With 36% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,676 in decade earnings vs $531,759 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Community Organization and Advocacy from Portland State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →