Community Organization and Advocacy at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

This program starts slow but shows genuine momentum, with earnings jumping 38% from $35,161 to $48,484 over four years. That growth trajectory matters more than the initial salary, which lands below the national median but matches Wisconsin's typical outcomes for this field. With only three schools in the state offering this major, you're looking at limited in-state options, and UW-Oshkosh sits right at the median for both earnings and debt.

The $26,449 in debt is actually manageable relative to that first-year salary—a 0.75 ratio is reasonable, especially given where earnings head by year four. The real question is whether your student can weather those first few years at lower pay. Community organizing work often requires patience before career advancement kicks in, and this data bears that out. The national 17th percentile ranking reflects that rough start, but by year four, graduates are earning above where many of their peers began.

For families comfortable with a longer-term investment and a child genuinely committed to advocacy work, this program offers a realistic path forward. The debt burden won't be crushing, and the earnings growth suggests this isn't a dead-end credential. Just be prepared for an entry-level salary that will require careful budgeting while your graduate builds experience and moves into better-paying positions.