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Human Resources Management and Services Degree

169 schools compared · Average earnings $51,600/yr

Students study employee recruitment, compensation and benefits, labor relations, organizational development, employment law, and talent management strategies. Graduates typically pursue careers as HR managers, recruiters, compensation analysts, training directors, and HR business partners in corporations, government, and consulting firms. Human resources is essential to every organization, providing strong job stability and clear advancement paths.

What Human Resources Management and Services Graduates Do

With a degree in human resources, you’ll manage a company’s most complex asset: its people. Early in your career as an HR specialist, you might spend your day sifting through résumés, conducting initial phone screens, and guiding new employees through onboarding. Alternatively, you could work as a training and development specialist—a high-growth path—designing interactive workshops or building e-learning programs to upskill the workforce.

Typically, you’ll progress from a specialist into a senior role like HR manager, where you’ll tackle sensitive employee relations issues and shape overall talent strategy. However, be prepared for significant change driven by AI. Core roles like HR specialist have high AI exposure, as algorithms now automate routine work like résumé screening and answering benefits queries. This is why administrative assistant roles are shrinking. Your future value isn't in processing data, but in your uniquely human skills: navigating complex interpersonal conflicts, making nuanced hiring judgments, and developing creative training solutions.

Schools Offering

169

Avg Grad Earnings

$51,600/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

58/100

AI Automation Risk

High

54% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Human Resources Management and Services graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 253,500 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Compensation and benefits managers	$140,360 $105K$191K	1,500	+0.2%	51%
Human resources managers	$140,030 $106K$190K	17,900	+5.0%	48%
Training and development managers	$127,090 $96K$169K	3,800	+5.8%	50%
Law teachers, postsecondary	$126,650 $85K$174K	2,200	+2.2%	45%
Business teachers, postsecondary	$97,270 $63K$140K	8,100	+5.7%	49%
Labor relations specialists	$93,500 $68K$123K	5,100	-0.1%	55%
Compliance officers	$78,420 $59K$105K	33,300	+3.0%	64%
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists	$77,020 $60K$99K	8,500	+5.3%	47%
Human resources specialists	$72,910 $56K$97K	81,800	+6.2%	64%
Training and development specialists	$65,850 $49K$92K	43,900	+10.8%	55%
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	$65,140 $52K$83K	31,000	+3.5%	29%
Counselors, all other	$49,830 $43K$67K	7,400	+12.6%	0%
Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping	$49,440 $42K–$59K	9,000	-7.1%	62%

Compensation and benefits managers

$140,360

$105K $191K

1,500 openings/yr +0.2% growth 51% AI risk

Human resources managers

$140,030

$106K $190K

17,900 openings/yr +5.0% growth 48% AI risk

Training and development managers

$127,090

$96K $169K

3,800 openings/yr +5.8% growth 50% AI risk

Law teachers, postsecondary

$126,650

$85K $174K

2,200 openings/yr +2.2% growth 45% AI risk

Business teachers, postsecondary

$97,270

$63K $140K

8,100 openings/yr +5.7% growth 49% AI risk

Labor relations specialists

$93,500

$68K $123K

5,100 openings/yr -0.1% growth 55% AI risk

Compliance officers

$78,420

$59K $105K

33,300 openings/yr +3.0% growth 64% AI risk

Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists

$77,020

$60K $99K

8,500 openings/yr +5.3% growth 47% AI risk

Human resources specialists

$72,910

$56K $97K

81,800 openings/yr +6.2% growth 64% AI risk

Training and development specialists

$65,850

$49K $92K

43,900 openings/yr +10.8% growth 55% AI risk

Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors

$65,140

$52K $83K

31,000 openings/yr +3.5% growth 29% AI risk

Counselors, all other

$49,830

$43K $67K

7,400 openings/yr +12.6% growth 0% AI risk

Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

$49,440

$42K–$59K

9,000 openings/yr -7.1% growth 62% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Human Resources Management and Services

Top 20 of 169 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Brigham Young University Provo, UT	77 71–77	$59,842/yr	34.6x
2	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI	75 71–76	$82,714/yr	13.5x
3	Colorado State University Global Aurora, CO	75 69–75	$61,802/yr	23.1x
4	Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ	74 68–75	$53,382/yr	31.2x
5	Weber State University Ogden, UT	73 68–74	$59,158/yr	27.1x
6	University of Massachusetts Global Irvine, CA	72 67–73	$65,673/yr	15.0x
7	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, IN	71 65–72	$56,752/yr	20.0x
8	University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD	71 65–71	$53,685/yr	21.1x
9	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI	70 64–71	$55,263/yr	19.5x
10	Bellevue University Bellevue, NE	70 64–70	$53,007/yr	18.7x
11	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH	69 63–69	$58,991/yr	13.3x
12	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	69 63–70	$56,501/yr	12.6x
13	Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL	69 63–70	$53,843/yr	24.6x
14	University of Iowa Iowa City, IA	69 63–70	$52,945/yr	16.1x
15	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI	69 63–70	$52,071/yr	19.3x
16	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX	68 62–69	$56,961/yr	16.4x
17	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	68 62–68	$53,971/yr	13.1x
18	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC	68 62–69	$52,217/yr	17.5x
19	Texas Woman's University Denton, TX	68 62–68	$50,403/yr	17.9x
20	Portland State University Portland, OR	68 62–68	$49,696/yr	15.4x
21	Florida International University Miami, FL	68 63–69	$47,062/yr	24.6x
22	Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud, MN	67 61–67	$56,465/yr	13.8x
23	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX	67 61–68	$51,664/yr	13.5x
24	Franklin University Columbus, OH	67 61–68	$50,827/yr	16.5x
25	University of Idaho Moscow, ID	67 61–67	$49,442/yr	17.2x
26	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI	67 61–67	$48,505/yr	16.0x
27	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA	67 62–68	$46,453/yr	22.4x
28	Cornell University Ithaca, NY	66 61–67	$73,436/yr	3.6x
29	Idaho State University Pocatello, ID	66 61–67	$62,033/yr	15.6x
30	University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ	66 60–67	$57,983/yr	14.4x
31	Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Green Bay, WI	66 60–66	$56,465/yr	12.5x
32	Winona State University Winona, MN	66 60–66	$50,241/yr	14.5x
33	Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN	66 60–66	$48,999/yr	15.6x
34	Wichita State University Wichita, KS	66 60–66	$48,817/yr	16.2x
35	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK	66 60–67	$45,107/yr	17.5x
36	California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA	66 61–67	$43,848/yr	22.7x
37	Waldorf University Forest City, IA	65 61–66	$77,897/yr	6.5x
38	Capella University Minneapolis, MN	65 60–66	$64,834/yr	10.5x
39	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo, ND	65 59–65	$56,465/yr	11.7x
40	Rutgers University-Camden Camden, NJ	65 59–65	$49,441/yr	10.8x
41	Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ	65 59–65	$49,441/yr	10.7x
42	University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK	65 59–66	$45,556/yr	17.8x
43	Benedictine University Lisle, IL	64 60–65	$83,475/yr	4.7x
44	Bethel University Saint Paul, MN	64 60–65	$76,000/yr	4.2x
45	Rasmussen University-Illinois Rockford, IL	64 58–65	$56,465/yr	10.9x
46	Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY	64 58–65	$49,803/yr	13.6x
47	Ball State University Muncie, IN	64 58–65	$47,451/yr	14.1x
48	University of Houston Houston, TX	64 58–65	$46,700/yr	15.3x
49	University of North Texas Denton, TX	64 58–64	$45,745/yr	14.0x
50	Wilmington University New Castle, DE	63 57–64	$58,049/yr	11.2x
51	Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala, FL	63 57–63	$56,465/yr	9.7x
52	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH	63 57–64	$51,422/yr	11.5x
53	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN	63 57–63	$50,946/yr	9.9x
54	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI	63 57–64	$50,612/yr	10.9x
55	Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, OH	63 57–63	$47,898/yr	12.9x
56	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI	63 57–63	$44,615/yr	13.1x
57	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY	63 57–64	$42,900/yr	17.0x
58	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, PA	63 58–64	$42,542/yr	14.7x
59	Rasmussen University-Kansas Topeka, KS	62 56–63	$56,465/yr	9.5x
60	Utah Valley University Orem, UT	62 56–63	$52,194/yr	19.8x
61	Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI	62 57–63	$51,010/yr	10.4x
62	Temple University Philadelphia, PA	62 56–62	$50,128/yr	7.9x
63	Wayne State University Detroit, MI	62 56–63	$48,324/yr	10.8x
64	Rowan University Glassboro, NJ	62 56–63	$47,983/yr	10.2x
65	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA	62 56–62	$45,144/yr	16.9x
66	Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX	62 57–63	$43,750/yr	15.7x
67	Southern Nazarene University Bethany, OK	61 55–61	$61,939/yr	5.1x
68	Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA	61 55–61	$58,528/yr	3.4x
69	Baker College Owosso, MI	61 55–62	$50,383/yr	10.9x
70	Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH	61 55–62	$45,244/yr	13.0x
71	Concordia University-Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN	60 55–61	$65,730/yr	5.6x
72	George Washington University Washington, DC	60 54–61	$57,219/yr	2.8x
73	Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, GA	60 55–60	$37,917/yr	26.8x
74	Ashford University San Diego, CA	59 53–60	$51,118/yr	9.9x
75	Grand View University Des Moines, IA	59 53–60	$49,917/yr	5.0x
76	Baylor University Waco, TX	58 52–59	$62,562/yr	2.7x
77	Bryant University Smithfield, RI	58 53–59	$62,176/yr	2.9x
78	Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI	58 52–58	$58,982/yr	4.0x
79	Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI	58 52–58	$58,982/yr	4.0x
80	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, IN	58 52–59	$56,752/yr	4.5x
81	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA	58 52–59	$53,339/yr	6.5x
82	Park University Parkville, MO	58 52–59	$51,169/yr	8.2x
83	Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND	58 52–58	$50,122/yr	12.7x
84	University of Toledo Toledo, OH	58 53–59	$42,714/yr	11.5x
85	Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX	58 53–59	$38,622/yr	17.1x
86	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, NY	57 52–58	$66,063/yr	3.5x
87	Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA	57 51–58	$55,616/yr	4.0x
88	Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI	57 51–58	$51,681/yr	5.9x
89	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN	57 51–57	$50,810/yr	11.6x
90	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN	57 51–57	$49,956/yr	9.1x
91	Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI	57 51–58	$48,115/yr	8.6x
92	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN	57 51–58	$47,640/yr	13.1x
93	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	57 51–58	$46,041/yr	14.5x
94	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH	57 51–57	$43,125/yr	16.5x
95	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH	57 51–57	$43,125/yr	16.5x
96	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, OH	57 51–57	$43,125/yr	16.5x
97	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH	57 51–57	$43,125/yr	16.5x
98	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, OH	57 51–57	$43,125/yr	16.5x
99	Walsh University North Canton, OH	56 52–57	$80,566/yr	4.8x
100	University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX	56 50–57	$58,499/yr	3.6x
101	University of Arkansas Grantham LIttle Rock, AR	56 50–57	$46,524/yr	13.0x
102	University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS	56 51–57	$44,709/yr	12.2x
103	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH	56 51–57	$44,171/yr	9.8x
104	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR	56 51–57	$40,007/yr	13.2x
105	University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn, MI	55 49–56	$55,944/yr	8.4x
106	North Central College Naperville, IL	55 49–55	$53,587/yr	3.0x
107	Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ	55 49–56	$52,285/yr	2.8x
108	Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO	55 49–55	$50,426/yr	5.9x
109	Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA	55 49–56	$49,106/yr	6.6x
110	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN	55 49–56	$46,691/yr	11.3x
111	University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL	55 49–55	$45,343/yr	11.8x
112	Texas A&M University-Central Texas Killeen, TX	55 49–55	$41,378/yr	14.6x
113	Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL	54 48–55	$53,258/yr	4.3x
114	University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN	54 48–55	$52,667/yr	2.6x
115	The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX	54 48–54	$51,732/yr	7.9x
116	Lewis University Romeoville, IL	54 48–55	$50,361/yr	3.5x
117	Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL	54 48–54	$49,131/yr	8.9x
118	Northwestern University Evanston, IL	53 50–54	$82,255/yr	2.1x
119	University of Phoenix-Hawaii Kapolei, HI	53 47–54	$57,983/yr	—
120	University of Phoenix-California Ontario, CA	53 47–54	$57,983/yr	—
121	University of Phoenix-Nevada Las Vegas, NV	53 47–54	$57,983/yr	—
122	University of Phoenix-Texas Dallas, TX	53 47–54	$57,983/yr	—
123	University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA	53 47–53	$55,123/yr	2.0x
124	Regent University Virginia Beach, VA	53 47–54	$51,631/yr	5.6x
125	Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI	53 47–54	$50,259/yr	7.6x
126	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI	53 47–54	$50,089/yr	8.2x
127	Columbia College Columbia, MO	53 47–53	$49,326/yr	4.9x
128	Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH	53 47–53	$47,983/yr	8.3x
129	Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX	53 47–54	$45,516/yr	9.7x
130	Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN	53 49–54	$38,296/yr	12.5x
131	Marquette University Milwaukee, WI	52 47–53	$54,242/yr	2.5x
132	Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO	52 46–53	$52,377/yr	2.4x
133	DeSales University Center Valley, PA	52 46–53	$49,480/yr	2.9x
134	Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, RI	52 46–52	$46,645/yr	7.7x
135	Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA	51 46–52	$60,136/yr	2.6x
136	Geneva College Beaver Falls, PA	51 46–52	$56,414/yr	3.2x
137	Ottawa University-Kansas City Overland Park, KS	51 45–51	$49,063/yr	—
138	Ottawa University-Milwaukee Brookfield, WI	51 45–51	$49,063/yr	—
139	Ottawa University-Online Overland Park, KS	51 45–51	$49,063/yr	—
140	Western Illinois University Macomb, IL	51 45–52	$47,467/yr	7.1x
141	Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ	51 46–52	$40,941/yr	3.7x
142	University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC	51 45–51	$40,860/yr	5.1x
143	The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, TX	51 47–51	$34,085/yr	13.0x
144	Emporia State University Emporia, KS	50 46–51	$38,538/yr	12.1x
145	Colorado Christian University Lakewood, CO	49 43–50	$55,261/yr	2.6x
146	Friends University Wichita, KS	49 44–50	$54,539/yr	3.1x
147	Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY	49 44–50	$53,317/yr	2.4x
148	Concordia University-Chicago River Forest, IL	49 43–50	$51,763/yr	2.6x
149	McKendree University Lebanon, IL	49 43–50	$49,505/yr	3.2x
150	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH	49 43–50	$43,125/yr	6.8x
151	Meredith College Raleigh, NC	48 42–48	$50,635/yr	1.9x
152	Ottawa University-Ottawa Ottawa, KS	48 42–49	$49,063/yr	2.5x
153	Ottawa University-Surprise Surprise, AZ	48 42–49	$49,063/yr	2.5x
154	Tiffin University Tiffin, OH	48 42–48	$47,095/yr	2.6x
155	Athens State University Athens, AL	48 42–49	$44,130/yr	—
156	Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH	48 42–48	$40,869/yr	7.1x
157	John Carroll University University Heights, OH	47 41–48	$50,938/yr	1.6x
158	Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA	47 41–47	$48,722/yr	2.6x
159	University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA	47 41–48	$48,657/yr	2.0x
160	Anderson University Anderson, SC	47 41–47	$45,697/yr	2.4x
161	Mercer University Macon, GA	46 41–47	$47,538/yr	1.9x
162	Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI	46 40–47	$46,645/yr	1.9x
163	University of Michigan-Flint Flint, MI	46 41–47	$39,385/yr	6.0x
164	Bluffton University Bluffton, OH	45 39–46	$55,253/yr	2.1x
165	Lipscomb University Nashville, TN	45 40–45	$38,493/yr	3.1x
166	Limestone University Gaffney, SC	44 38–45	$47,086/yr	2.9x
167	Seton Hill University Greensburg, PA	43 38–44	$41,087/yr	2.5x
168	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY	42 38–43	$33,658/yr	10.4x
169	Faulkner University Montgomery, AL	40 35–41	$40,764/yr	3.0x

Highest Earning Human Resources Management and Services Programs

Schools where Human Resources Management and Services graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
Benedictine University	$83,475/yr	64
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$82,714/yr	75
Northwestern University	$82,255/yr	53
Walsh University	$80,566/yr	56
Waldorf University	$77,897/yr	65
Bethel University	$76,000/yr	64
Cornell University	$73,436/yr	66
Roberts Wesleyan University	$66,063/yr	57
Concordia University-Saint Paul	$65,730/yr	60
University of Massachusetts Global	$65,673/yr	72

Best ROI for Human Resources Management and Services

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Human Resources Management and Services.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
Brigham Young University	34.6x	$59,842/yr	77
Thomas Edison State University	31.2x	$53,382/yr	74
Weber State University	27.1x	$59,158/yr	73
Georgia Southwestern State University	26.8x	$37,917/yr	60
Columbia Southern University	24.6x	$53,843/yr	69
Florida International University	24.6x	$47,062/yr	68
Colorado State University Global	23.1x	$61,802/yr	75
California State University-Fresno	22.7x	$43,848/yr	66
California State University-Long Beach	22.4x	$46,453/yr	67
University of Maryland Global Campus	21.1x	$53,685/yr	71

Want to compare two Human Resources Management and Services programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

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Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Human Resources Management and Services offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Human Resources Management and Services graduates earn?

Across 169 schools, Human Resources Management and Services graduates earn an average of $51,600 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $33,658 to $83,475 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Human Resources Management and Services?

Human Resources Management and Services is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 54% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.

Which school has the best Human Resources Management and Services program?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Brigham Young University ranks #1 for Human Resources Management and Services with a score of 77/100 and graduate earnings of $59,842/yr.

What's the outlook for a Human Resources Management and Services degree?

On average, Human Resources Management and Services graduates earn 10.3x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →