Community Organization and Advocacy at Middle Georgia State University

Middle Georgia State's community organizing program sits in an unusual position: it essentially *is* the Georgia median for this field, since only two schools in the state offer it. But that 60th percentile ranking hides a troubling pattern—graduates earn $38,638 in their first year, then see income drop 12% to $33,957 by year four. That's moving in the wrong direction at a time when most careers are building momentum.

The debt picture adds concern. At $31,981, it takes roughly 83 cents of every dollar earned in that first year just to manage repayment, and the earnings decline makes that burden heavier over time. Nationally, this program lands below average at the 35th percentile for earnings, suggesting Georgia graduates face the same challenges that make community organizing financially difficult across the country. For a family considering this program, you're looking at immediate financial pressure that intensifies rather than eases.

The very small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing dramatically with just a few outliers, so they're less reliable than data from larger programs. If your student is passionate about advocacy work, this may be a stepping stone to graduate education or nonprofit leadership roles where the financial picture improves. But taken at face value, the combination of below-average starting pay, declining earnings, and nearly dollar-for-dollar debt makes this a challenging financial path right out of the gate.