Community Organization and Advocacy at Siena Heights University

Siena Heights' Community Organization and Advocacy program produces earnings about $7,500 below Michigan's median for this field and nearly $8,000 below the national average. At the 11th percentile nationally, it's competing at the bottom tier of programs while charging near-average debt levels. The $34,114 first-year salary is barely above minimum wage for full-time work, and the modest 4% growth to $35,366 by year four suggests limited career advancement.

The state comparison is particularly telling. Among Michigan's four programs, Siena Heights ranks at just the 25th percentile—meaning even within state options, three-quarters of similar programs deliver better outcomes. Central Michigan's graduates, for instance, earn $49,103, a $15,000 premium over Siena Heights. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 isn't catastrophic, it assumes your child will stay in this field; if they pivot to nonprofit or advocacy work elsewhere, these earnings may prove difficult to sustain.

The fundamental problem: this program costs nearly $30,000 in debt to access a career path that could likely be entered with a less expensive degree—or without one at all, since many advocacy roles value experience over credentials. If your child is committed to community organizing, Michigan offers demonstrably stronger programs at similar price points. This is a tough investment to justify.