50 Most Affordable Human Resources Management School Programs

Get Matched With Human Resources Management Colleges

When students and their families begin looking at the costs of attending college, the first thing they’ll realize is that going to college is expensive, even if they choose a university in their own state that charges less for in-state attendees. Along with finding answers to questions about whether different schools offer particular degrees, such as human resources management, students have to look at other things as well when they are trying to decide if the cost will be worth it in the end. Here, we’ll try to help you answer the most important questions you’ll run into when considering how much is too much when you’re hoping to earn a college degree and what else are vital factors to making this important decision.

The degree offerings question is important; after all, students may not be firmly set on a major and they may change their major once or twice before they find a program they’re happy with. Even if you’re 100% certain what you want your major to be, having a variety of other courses you can take will give you more options for a possible second major or a minor or simply to broaden your experience.

Next, students often consider location an important factor. While going to school in their home state may be more affordable, it also may not be depending in whether they choose a private or public school. And one of the biggest questions is affordability. Going to a dream school may be precisely what a student needs, or it may weigh the student down with student loans for years. Keep reading to get a better idea of what are the most important factors for you to consider.

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Top 50 Affordable Human Resource Management Colleges and Universities

1

Northern Kentucky University

Score: 100

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,896
- Out-of-State: $21,480
Net Price: $7,259
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 15,801
Undergrad Students: 10,776
Graduate Students: 5,025
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

2

Purdue University Northwest

Score: 92.55

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,419
- Out-of-State: $15,620
Net Price: $9,162
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 64%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 8,911
Undergrad Students: 8,176
Graduate Students: 735
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

3

Western Governors University

Score: 92.37

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,300
- Out-of-State: $8,300
Net Price: $9,207
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 156,935
Undergrad Students: 112,807
Graduate Students: 44,128
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 42:1

4

California State University-Long Beach

Score: 91.83

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,008
- Out-of-State: $18,888
Net Price: $9,346
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 73%
Total Enrollment: 38,973
Undergrad Students: 32,931
Graduate Students: 6,042
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 22:1

5

Utah Valley University

Score: 91.83

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,270
- Out-of-State: $17,830
Net Price: $9,346
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 39%
Total Enrollment: 43,099
Undergrad Students: 42,296
Graduate Students: 803
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 25:1

6

Peirce College

Score: 90.75

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,060
- Out-of-State: $15,060
Net Price: $9,621
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 5%
Total Enrollment: 856
Undergrad Students: 762
Graduate Students: 94
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

7

SUNY Empire State University

Score: 90.43

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,630
- Out-of-State: $17,540
Net Price: $9,704
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 25%
Total Enrollment: 9,407
Undergrad Students: 7,735
Graduate Students: 1,672
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

8

University of Alaska Southeast

Score: 89.96

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,960
- Out-of-State: $21,096
Net Price: $9,823
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 25%
Total Enrollment: 1,923
Undergrad Students: 1,724
Graduate Students: 199
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

9

Florida International University

Score: 89.73

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State: $18,963
Net Price: $9,881
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 91%

Graduation Rate: 69%
Total Enrollment: 55,609
Undergrad Students: 45,688
Graduate Students: 9,921
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

10

Missouri Southern State University

Score: 89.03

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,400
- Out-of-State: $16,800
Net Price: $10,061
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 62%

Graduation Rate: 36%
Total Enrollment: 4,144
Undergrad Students: 4,052
Graduate Students: 92
Grads Salary: $62,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

11

Charter Oak State College

Score: 88.52

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,506
- Out-of-State: $8,506
Net Price: $10,191
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 100%
Total Enrollment: 1,602
Undergrad Students: 1,501
Graduate Students: 101
Grads Salary: $81,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

12

University of Illinois Chicago

Score: 87.77

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,338
- Out-of-State: $29,360
Net Price: $10,384
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 33,747
Undergrad Students: 21,807
Graduate Students: 11,940
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

13

New Mexico State University

Score: 87.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,147
- Out-of-State: $25,271
Net Price: $10,407
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 14,268
Undergrad Students: 11,591
Graduate Students: 2,677
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

14

Weber State University

Score: 87.21

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,391
- Out-of-State: $17,084
Net Price: $10,525
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 29,914
Undergrad Students: 28,903
Graduate Students: 1,011
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

15

University of Michigan-Flint

Score: 85.98

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,014
- Out-of-State: $31,274
Net Price: $10,840
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 46%
Total Enrollment: 5,985
Undergrad Students: 4,609
Graduate Students: 1,376
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

16

American Public University System

Score: 84.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,400
- Out-of-State: $8,400
Net Price: $11,172
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 48,668
Undergrad Students: 39,206
Graduate Students: 9,462
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

17

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Score: 84.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,455
- Out-of-State: $19,210
Net Price: $11,173
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 75%

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 8,197
Undergrad Students: 5,825
Graduate Students: 2,372
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

18

Western Illinois University

Score: 84.52

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,952
- Out-of-State: $14,952
Net Price: $11,213
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 47%
Total Enrollment: 7,643
Undergrad Students: 5,309
Graduate Students: 2,334
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

19

California State University-Sacramento

Score: 83.02

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,602
- Out-of-State: $19,482
Net Price: $11,596
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Retention Rate: 80%

Graduation Rate: 54%
Total Enrollment: 31,818
Undergrad Students: 28,921
Graduate Students: 2,897
Grads Salary: $81,000
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

20

Texas Woman's University

Score: 82.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,648
- Out-of-State: $18,720
Net Price: $11,682
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Retention Rate: 73%

Graduation Rate: 48%
Total Enrollment: 15,958
Undergrad Students: 10,153
Graduate Students: 5,805
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

21

Lamar University

Score: 82.39

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,690
- Out-of-State: $18,482
Net Price: $11,757
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 38%
Total Enrollment: 16,803
Undergrad Students: 8,264
Graduate Students: 8,539
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

22

Youngstown State University

Score: 81.83

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,791
- Out-of-State: $11,151
Net Price: $11,900
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 11,071
Undergrad Students: 8,822
Graduate Students: 2,249
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

23

Georgia Southwestern State University

Score: 80.71

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,980
- Out-of-State: $15,702
Net Price: $12,186
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 60%

Graduation Rate: 36%
Total Enrollment: 3,070
Undergrad Students: 2,473
Graduate Students: 597
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

24

Columbia Southern University

Score: 80.01

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,808
- Out-of-State: $5,808
Net Price: $12,366
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 42%

Graduation Rate: 33%
Total Enrollment: 15,948
Undergrad Students: 11,330
Graduate Students: 4,618
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 28:1

25

Holy Family University

Score: 79.95

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,968
- Out-of-State: $33,968
Net Price: $12,379
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 59%
Total Enrollment: 2,912
Undergrad Students: 2,155
Graduate Students: 757
Grads Salary: $84,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

26

Idaho State University

Score: 79.77

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,356
- Out-of-State: $27,466
Net Price: $12,425
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 37%
Total Enrollment: 12,301
Undergrad Students: 10,017
Graduate Students: 2,284
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

27

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Score: 79.7

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,944
- Out-of-State: $31,360
Net Price: $12,444
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Retention Rate: 82%

Graduation Rate: 56%
Total Enrollment: 8,223
Undergrad Students: 6,116
Graduate Students: 2,107
Grads Salary: $81,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

28

Ball State University

Score: 79.03

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,758
- Out-of-State: $28,766
Net Price: $12,615
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 73%

Graduation Rate: 64%
Total Enrollment: 19,777
Undergrad Students: 14,416
Graduate Students: 5,361
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

29

Peru State College

Score: 79.02

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,280
- Out-of-State: $8,280
Net Price: $12,618
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 58%

Graduation Rate: 34%
Total Enrollment: 1,799
Undergrad Students: 1,569
Graduate Students: 230
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

30

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Score: 78.84

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,991
- Out-of-State: $21,965
Net Price: $12,664
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Retention Rate: 80%

Graduation Rate: 54%
Total Enrollment: 34,393
Undergrad Students: 29,686
Graduate Students: 4,707
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

31

Indiana State University

Score: 78.74

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,992
- Out-of-State: $21,734
Net Price: $12,688
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Retention Rate: 64%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 8,658
Undergrad Students: 6,965
Graduate Students: 1,693
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

32

Mississippi University for Women

Score: 78.73

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,092
- Out-of-State: $8,092
Net Price: $12,691
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 73%

Graduation Rate: 37%
Total Enrollment: 2,339
Undergrad Students: 2,080
Graduate Students: 259
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

33

Eastern Washington University

Score: 78.2

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,353
- Out-of-State: $25,892
Net Price: $12,827
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 10,910
Undergrad Students: 7,604
Graduate Students: 3,306
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

34

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Score: 78.2

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,212
- Out-of-State: $16,125
Net Price: $12,827
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 58%
Total Enrollment: 13,705
Undergrad Students: 12,627
Graduate Students: 1,078
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

35

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Score: 77.63

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,370
- Out-of-State: $22,358
Net Price: $12,973
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 15,058
Undergrad Students: 12,026
Graduate Students: 3,032
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

36

Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo

Score: 77.55

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,126
- Out-of-State: $19,126
Net Price: $12,994
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 31%
Total Enrollment: 787
Undergrad Students: 787
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $56,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

37

Salem University

Score: 77.01

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,750
- Out-of-State: $13,750
Net Price: $13,132
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 57%

Graduation Rate: 29%
Total Enrollment: 984
Undergrad Students: 762
Graduate Students: 222
Grads Salary: N/A
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

38

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Score: 76.9

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,142
- Out-of-State: $26,098
Net Price: $13,159
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 47%
Total Enrollment: 30,660
Undergrad Students: 25,365
Graduate Students: 5,295
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

39

Auburn University at Montgomery

Score: 76.89

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,436
- Out-of-State: $20,092
Net Price: $13,163
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 36%
Total Enrollment: 5,109
Undergrad Students: 3,754
Graduate Students: 1,355
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

40

The University of Texas at Tyler

Score: 76.55

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,920
- Out-of-State: $25,198
Net Price: $13,248
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Retention Rate: 61%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 9,322
Undergrad Students: 6,971
Graduate Students: 2,351
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

41

Fort Hays State University

Score: 76.26

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,633
- Out-of-State: $16,811
Net Price: $13,322
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Retention Rate: 76%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 12,949
Undergrad Students: 10,427
Graduate Students: 2,522
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

42

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Score: 76.26

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,250
- Out-of-State: $17,916
Net Price: $13,322
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 11,079
Undergrad Students: 9,367
Graduate Students: 1,712
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

43

Goldey-Beacom College

Score: 75.75

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,440
- Out-of-State: $13,440
Net Price: $13,454
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 1,012
Undergrad Students: 620
Graduate Students: 392
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

44

Brigham Young University

Score: 75.48

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,496
- Out-of-State: $6,496
Net Price: $13,521
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 79%
Total Enrollment: 34,464
Undergrad Students: 31,411
Graduate Students: 3,053
Grads Salary: $83,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

45

Wichita State University

Score: 75.36

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,322
- Out-of-State: $19,240
Net Price: $13,553
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 66%

Graduation Rate: 52%
Total Enrollment: 16,216
Undergrad Students: 12,049
Graduate Students: 4,167
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

46

The University of Texas at Dallas

Score: 75.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,564
- Out-of-State: $40,064
Net Price: $13,555
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 87%

Graduation Rate: 70%
Total Enrollment: 31,570
Undergrad Students: 21,617
Graduate Students: 9,953
Grads Salary: $81,000
Student-to-faculty: 27:1

47

Trinity Washington University

Score: 75.23

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,110
- Out-of-State: $26,110
Net Price: $13,586
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 38%
Total Enrollment: 1,895
Undergrad Students: 1,561
Graduate Students: 334
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

48

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Score: 75.21

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $29,264
- Out-of-State: $29,264
Net Price: $13,591
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 75%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 1,052
Undergrad Students: 929
Graduate Students: 123
Grads Salary: $66,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

49

Sam Houston State University

Score: 75.05

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,228
- Out-of-State: $19,020
Net Price: $13,632
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 56%
Total Enrollment: 21,480
Undergrad Students: 18,235
Graduate Students: 3,245
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

50

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Score: 75.02

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,186
- Out-of-State: $34,218
Net Price: $13,639
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 19,074
Undergrad Students: 14,198
Graduate Students: 4,876
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Why a Degree from an Affordable Human Resources Management School?

The cost of a university or college may be a factor in students choosing to go elsewhere. About 18.6% of students decided not to go to their first-choice college; these students listed high costs as their reason for choosing different schools. About half as many students (9.4%) said that campus environment is what caused them to choose a different school.

Breaking this down, students said that there were four reasons that caused them to turn away from their first-choice colleges:

Cost of attendance, 18.6%
Financial aid package, 9.01%
Merit-based scholarship received, 6.3%
Timing of the student’s financial aid reward, 1.0%

Minority students also said cost was a factor in their decisions to choose other schools; this happened about 43% of the time.

Economic turndowns and recessions also contribute to students choosing universities that charge students less to attend. The socioeconomic status of a student’s family may also be a factor; they may choose a less-expensive school because they don’t want to put too much financial pressure on their families. And the differences in tuition costs between public and private colleges is another issue. students change their minds, opting to attend a less expensive, public university rather than a more costly, private college.

Whatever a student’s reason for attending a less expensive college, the fact is that, as students see a bachelor’s degree as offering less value overall, they see less reason to pay exorbitant amounts to earn one. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to the most expensive, private universities, and these options are just as well thought of by employers when you graduate with a degree in human resource management.

Get Matched With Online Human Resources Management Schools

Choosing an Affordable HR Management College

Emotion often enters the decision of which university or college a student may choose. Some students think that they need to attend an expensive, well-known university for their degree to mean anything. However, these students may be overlooking the fact that, when they graduate, they will have a big student loan to repay. Its true that networking in a better-known college or gaining access to a great alumni network can be a huge advantage in some situations. But it is not always the most important thing when you are considering college options.

If a student doesn’t get that scholarship to attend Harvard, or the nearby private university they were hoping to attend, all is not lost. One way to parse the remaining college options available to you is by student outcomes. Some schools publish the average income of their graduates. By considering this average income of a school’s graduates vs. the cost of attending the school, you can find the likely return on investment (ROI) for the money you will pay for your education.

You’ll also want to pay attention to things like accreditation and the net price of the school. Accreditation will mean that a student can receive federal financial aid and is required for many scholarships as well. The net price, which denotes the average amount students at the school pay after financial aid is factored in, helps high school graduates see how good the school is at helping their students find or apply scholarships, grants, or federal student aid.

As we’ve already mentioned, an in-state public school is often a better investment than an out-of-state school because public schools are subsidized by local governments to lower the cost of education for local students. This is not the case for out-of-state students. However, there is more to it than this. Students attending school outside of their own state will also need to consider how much transportation costs will be to return home for vacations or breaks. If you’re only a couple hours from home, that’s one thing. If you need to fly, that’s a whole new cost you’ll have to consider.

Online Options

Some students may have no option but to enroll in an online human resource management degree program. They may already be employed full-time and need to maintain their income, or they may have to help take care of a family member. There are even students who choose to enroll online to keep their travel and living costs lower by staying at home while keeping up with their studies.

A human resources management degree is one that easily adapts to either on-campus or online formats. A student who knows what topic they want to study and specialize in can choose an online program that offers them the degree they’re looking for. With the steady improvement of the online format, assignments, and student-professor interaction, students who are attending online classes can gain as much value as their on-campus counterparts.

Online degree programs have increasingly good reputations, especially when they are offered by colleges and universities that offer on-campus programs. Much of the material taught to on-campus students is exactly the same as that offered to students who are attending their program fully online. Looking at a human resources management degree program, online students will learn the same material as on-campus students, they will be able to apply to similar job openings, and they will find the same success in the workplace as long as they are able to complete their program.

Students who are concerned about accreditation should ask about this for each school they are interested in. A human resources management program may be accredited by a regional accrediting agency, overseen by CHEA, or the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Are Human Resource Management Programs in High Demand?

The job outlook for human resources specialists and managers has been predicted to grow by 7% between 2019 to 2029. This growth rate may not seem huge, but it is faster than for other occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This means that job prospects for HR specialists look good - 64,500 positions are projected each year throughout the decade. Most of these positions may open due to attrition as workers leave the labor force or transfer to other occupations.

The knowledge and services of human resources specialists is likely to be in higher demand as they handle ever more complex healthcare coverage options and employment laws. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the highest amount of growth is projected to be in the technical, scientific, professional, and technical services industry.

Going forward, some companies are getting away from directly employ HR specialists. Instead, they are outsourcing the functions of the HR department to outside organizations. As the HR role grows and develops, job descriptions are also changing. Currently, HR managers are being called HR business partners as they are asked to provide consultation and advisory skills to organization leaders.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Human Resources Management?

HR specialists are evolving experts in benefits and employment law. They are the critical link that educates and informs new and continuing employees to understand just how valuable they are to their respective teams. These specialists are also part of the ongoing effort to help recruit and bring new talent on board.

Some HR specialists may be more of a jack of all trades professional and work in a small company. These generalists should be knowledgeable about everything related to the HR field. They may develop hiring and training programs one week and work with the company’s upper management the next. At the same time, they will still be fielding day-to-day issues.

Human resource managers have usually already spent a few years as HR specialists. After gaining this experience and, perhaps, earning a master’s degree in human resources management, they may be promoted into this leadership role. They may focus on strategic and planning roles and may also work closely with upper management.

Training and development specialists help to determine the skills employees need. With this information, they organize and carry out training programs. Training development managers may plan the full program and help their HR team enact them.

Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists compare benefit policies and plans, and may classify positions and write job descriptions when they are looking for new employees.

A chief HR officer will most likely have earned their master’s degree in human resources. They develop HR strategies, goals, and policies. They’ll also communicate to other executives the efforts HR is making in supporting and carrying out the company’s strategic vision. They may lead the development of strategies on recruitment and retention of employees and others in the company.

HR Management Graduates Earn More After College

A professional with a bachelor’s degree in human resources or human resources management earns an average of $58,000 annually. Their annual salary is almost $10,000 higher than that of an HR generalist. If they are promoted to the director’s position, their annual salary may be as high as $79,000.

HR professionals who earn a graduate degree in human resource management, they earn a higher average annual salary of $64,000. HR directors earn an average annual salary of $83,000. As with most other careers, gaining a higher level of education will often allow you to earn a higher salary. Should a professional continue learning in this field or gaining certifications, they may increase their annual salary to $81,000 or even $107,000 annually in the position of a senior human resources business partner.

A Master of Business Administration (MBA), in Human Resources Management can increase your income if you also have the experience to go along with it. Those with this degree earn an average of $69,000 annually. If they become the director of their HR department, their annual salary increases to $89,000.

FAQs

What are the requirements for a degree in human resource management?
All students earning bachelor’s degrees are usually required to complete certain core curriculum or general education courses. Once they do this, they can begin their major courses which will cover their human resources courses, business courses, and any required electives. A bachelor’s degree usually requires a total of 120 hours altogether. If you choose to earn a master’s degree, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree and then earn another 60 credit hours on top of that, which is likely to cover more in-depth human resources and business knowledge.
Do human resource management programs require a GRE or GMAT?
Students enrolling into a Master of Science Human Resources Management program are usually required to take the GRE. This might change if you are earning your degree from a business school or earning an MBA. However, many schools are getting away from the GRE and GMAT requirements altogether. It’s important that you know what might be required of you if you have a specific degree program in mind.
How long does it take to get a degree in human resource management?
An on-campus or online Bachelor of Science in Human Resources or in Business Administration with a concentration in human resources management requires that students complete at least 120 credits. Students who attend full-time are generally able to graduate in four or five years. Online degree programs usually have the same requirements for graduation that their on-campus counterparts have, so the timeframe for graduation may be the same unless students accelerate their learning schedule.
How much money can you make with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in human resource management?
The average income of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in human resources management is $58,000 per year. However, those with a Master of Science in Human Resources Management earn an annual salary of $70,000.
Will earning a master’s help you move up in human resource management?
Earning a master’s in human resources can certainly help graduates to move up in the field. Because of the variety of specializations, HR managers can find their way into higher level or niche positions within the field, and having more education can definitely help in that endeavor.

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