University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights affordable programs in human resources management.

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.

Featured Online Human Resources Programs

Top 50 Affordable Human Resource Management Colleges and Universities


1
  • 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
  • Northern Kentucky University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
2
  • 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
  • Purdue University Northwest
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
3
  • 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
  • Western Governors University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
4
  • 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
  • California State University-Long Beach
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
5
  • 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
  • Utah Valley University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Peirce College
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
  • SUNY Empire State University
8
  • 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
  • University of Alaska Southeast
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
9
  • 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
  • Florida International University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Missouri Southern State University
11
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $8,506
    • Out-of-State: $8,506
  • Net Price: $10,191
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 100%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,602
  • Undergrad Students: 1,501
  • Graduate Students: 101
  • Grads Salary: $81,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Charter Oak State College
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • University of Illinois Chicago
13
  • 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
  • New Mexico State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
14
  • 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
  • Weber State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
15
  • 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
  • University of Michigan-Flint
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
16
  • 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
  • American Public University System
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
17
  • 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
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
18
  • 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
  • Western Illinois University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
19
  • 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
  • California State University-Sacramento
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
20
  • 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
  • Texas Woman's University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Lamar University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
22
  • 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
  • Youngstown State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Georgia Southwestern State University
24
  • 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
  • Columbia Southern University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Holy Family University
26
  • 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
  • Idaho State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
27
  • 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
  • University of Michigan-Dearborn
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
28
  • 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
  • Ball State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Peru State College
30
  • 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
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
31
  • 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
  • Indiana State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Mississippi University for Women
33
  • 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
  • Eastern Washington University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
34
  • 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
  • University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
35
  • 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
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo
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
  • Salem University
38
  • 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
  • University of Nevada-Las Vegas
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
39
  • 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
  • Auburn University at Montgomery
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
40
  • 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
  • The University of Texas at Tyler
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
41
  • 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
  • Fort Hays State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
42
  • 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
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Goldey-Beacom College
44
  • 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
  • Brigham Young University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
45
  • 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
  • Wichita State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
46
  • 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
  • The University of Texas at Dallas
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
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
  • Trinity Washington University
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
  • Tennessee Wesleyan University
49
  • 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
  • Sam Houston State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
50
  • 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
  • University of Hawaii at Manoa
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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.

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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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