Welcome to our ranking of the top online human resources degrees. This ranking features the best undergraduate HR degrees offered online by colleges and universities around the United States. In the wake of COVID, many physical college campuses are seeing their physical operations curtailed. Online education is the order of the day. And if you’re going to be doing most of your learning online, why not choose a college or university that already offers degrees online?
Schools that have been offering degrees online since before it became necessary have professors with relevant training and experience in online education. They already have in place:
- the appropriate structures
- methodologies
- best practices
Many of these programs are offered in asynchronous, accelerated formats. This makes them much more convenient than traditional programs. This means if you’re working from home, or out of work, now might be a great time to start completing your degree.
Many of the colleges and universities featured in this ranking also have rolling application periods, with multiple (often 6-8) points of entry per year. This means if you delayed applying for colleges, many of the programs in our ranking will allow you to apply now and start mid-semester. Some you can even apply a week before classes start. However, you should be mindful about how starting on such short notice interacts with financial aid.
This ranking of the top HR degrees online evaluated schools based on:
- the cost of tuition (10% of the score)
- graduation rate (30% of the score)
- 20 year net ROI (30% of the score)
- overall rankings (30% of the score)
The graduation rate listed in this ranking is a combination of the graduation and transfer out rates for each school. In this ranking of the best online HR degrees you will find programs offered by several top-level colleges and universities. And with 30 schools featured, we’re confident you will find the right choice!
Ranking the Best Online Human Resources Degree Programs
#1. New York University
Score: 100
Website
Human resources management is one of several concentrations at NYU’s online bachelor’s in leadership and management studies. Students in the program will take courses like:
- calculus with applications to business and economics
- business ethics
- intermediate accounting
- multicultural communication
- leadership strategies for the global workplace
- human resources leadership and strategy.
- Tuition: $53,308
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $611,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #29 National Universities
#2. Rutgers University
Score: 99.989
Website
Rutgers University’s online bachelor’s in business administration program offers a specialization in strategic human resource management. Students can also pursue a dual-degree program that allows them to earn their MBA along with their bachelor’s degree. Rutgers’ business programs are AACSB-accredited. This means they’re among the best in the country. One thing to note is that students must already have 18 college credits from a regionally accredited college or university to enter this program.
- Tuition: $32,189
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $569,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #39 in Online Bachelor’s Degrees
#3. University of Virginia
Score: 99.73
Website
Students at the University of Virginia can earn a bachelor’s degree in either liberal arts or health management. They can then opt into an online certificate in human resources to complement either degree. Students taking the certificate will take courses like:
- management of organizations
- organizational change and development
- human resource management
- legal and ethical issues in human resources.
- Tuition: $50,900
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $567,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #28 in National Universities
#4. Pennsylvania State University
Score: 89.80
Website
The online degree in labor and human resources at Penn State offers:
- a human resources track
- a labor and employment relations track
Penn’s school of labor and employment relations has been operating since 1942. This is the only online degree that offers a concentration focusing on the concerns of labor. It’s an ideal program for anyone who wants to become a union representative and negotiator.
- Tuition: $13,988
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $419,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #8 in Online Bachelor’s Degrees
#5. Florida International University
Score: 85.77
Website
The fully online bachelor’s in human resource management at FIU is offered through the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business. Students take courses like:
- international human resource management
- managing diversity
- happiness at work
- union-management relations
- compensation and benefits
- human resource information systems
- recruitment and staffing.
- Tuition: $10,376
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $330,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #52 in Online Bachelor’s Programs
#6. Saint Leo University
Score: 81.37
Website
Saint Leo University is a Roman Catholic university steeped in the Benedictine tradition of education. It emphasizes the growth of mind, body and spirit. The online human resource management degree features courses like:
- risk management
- organizational training and development
- recruitment, selection, and placement
- total compensation
- a human resources internship.
- Tuition: $23,750
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $334,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #80 Online Bachelor’s Programs
#7. LeTourneau University
Score: 79.78
Website
LeTourneau University offers an online BBA in human resource management at a much discounted rate compared to the school’s on-campus tuition. Students take courses like:
- quantitative methods
- strategic management
- principles of managerial accounting
- human resource management
- compensation and benefits
- staffing
- conflict resolution.
Tuition: $12,825
Graduation Rate: 63%
20 Year Net ROI: $489,000
U.S. News Ranking: #25 Regional Universities West
#8. Temple University
Score: 78.35
Website
Temple University’s Fox School of Business is one of the best business schools in the United States. The online BBA in human resource management is offered through this AACSB-accredited business school. The program covers concepts like:
- human resource management and public policy
- organizational staffing and career management
- compensation management
- labor relations
- training and development.
Tuition: $29,882
Graduation Rate: 88%
20 Year Net ROI: $321,000
U.S. News Ranking: #104 in National Universities
#9. Regent University
Score: 76.97
Website
Regent University’s online human resource management degree is delivered through 8-week courses. Students can take up to two at a time. The curriculum features courses like:
training and development, staffing and talent management, compensation and benefits management, international business, hospitality human resource management, human resource strategy in a global context, and management/contemporary issues.
training and development, staffing and talent management, compensation and benefits management, international business, hospitality human resource management, human resource strategy in a global context, and management/contemporary issues.
- training and development
- staffing and talent management
- compensation and benefits management
- international business
- hospitality human resource management
- human resource strategy in a global context
- management/contemporary issues.
- Tuition: $11,850
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $359,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #58 in Online Bachelor’s Programs
#10. Florida Institute of Technology
Score: 76.44
Website
The Society for Human Resource Management has recognized FIT’s online human resources degrees as fully aligning with SHRM’s curriculum guidelines. The curriculum includes courses like:
- continuous quality management
- organizational behavior and development
- principles of marketing
- psychology of the workplace
- management of human resources
- international management
- psychology of leadership.
- Tuition: $42,470
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $550,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #133 in Online Bachelor’s Programs
#11. Park University
Score: 74.91
Website
Park University offers students an ACBSP-accredited online BS in management/human resources. Students can also choose a business administration degree with a human resources concentration. The online human resources degree offers courses like:
- advanced business statistics
- business policy, principles of marketing
- compensation management
- planning and staffing
- employment law.
- Tuition: $11,190
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $365,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #223 Online Bachelor’s Programs
#12. Charleston Southern University
Score: 74.52
Website
The human resource management degree at Charleston Southern University is offered in both fully online and blended formats. The program accommodates the needs of a working adult. Students in this program will take courses like:
- organizational behavior
- employee staffing
- employee training and development
- human resource law.
Electives include courses like:
- nonprofit management
- organizational change and development
- information systems concepts
- calculus for business.
- Tuition: $26,000
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $114,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #11 Online Bachelor’s Programs
#13. DeSales University
Score: 72.65
Website
DeSales University’s online human resources degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The accelerated ACCESS program is available to all students with a high school diploma or GED who have been out of high school for 5+ years. Students can also receive credit for:
- work experience
- military training
- non-traditional training
Students can also transfer in up to 75 credits from another regionally accredited university.
- Tuition: $38,700
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $297,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #59 Regional Universities North
#14. Immaculata University
Score: 72.51
Website
Classes for the ACBSP-accredited online human resources management degree at Immaculata are offered in a seven-week format. Students who transfer in with 60 credits can complete their degree in around two years part-time. The online human resources degree takes an approach that balances business and liberal arts education. It covers subjects like:
- business and labor law
- accounting, marketing
- management
- statistics.
Tuition: $27,350
Graduation Rate: 91%
20 Year Net ROI: $366,000
U.S. News Ranking: #211 National Universities
#15. Regis University
Score: 72.49
Website
Students looking to complete their human resource management degree online at Regis can transfer up to 87 credits into this program. Graduates have become:
- organizational consultants
- change implementation specialists
- human resources managers
- labor relations specialists
- recruitment managers
- performance analysts
Classes take place over the course of 8-week terms.
- Tuition: $16,650
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $484,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #202 in National Universities
#16. Champlain College
Score: 71.80
Website
Human Resource Management is one of eight concentrations offered in Champlain College’s online business management degree. Courses are offered on a 7-week schedule with two sessions per semester, three semesters per year. Tuition for online courses is about ¼ the cost of traditional programs at Champlain. Students take courses like:
- managing behavior in organizations
- project management
- strategic management.
Tuition: $9,540
Graduation Rate: 90%
20 Year Net ROI: $212,000
U.S. News Ranking: #152 Online Bachelor’s Programs
#17. University of St. Francis
Score: 70.60
Website
The University of St. Francis offers a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in managing human resources. The 8-week accelerated format offers flexibility, with six course starting points throughout the year. During any given 8-week session students can take up to two courses. This is a degree completion program, so students must transfer at least 64 credits into the program, and can transfer up to 80 credits.
- Tuition: $34,000
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $287,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #58 in Online Bachelor Programs
#18. Geneva College
Score: 69.14
Website
The online human resources degree at Geneva emphasizes:
- group dynamics
- communication styles
- organizational behavior.
Students take courses like:
- career and professional development
- foundations of Christian thought
- business and interpersonal communication
- training and development
- employee and labor relations
- principles of management and supervision.
- Tuition: $28,190
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $268,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #92 Regional Universities North
#19. Brenau University
Score: 69.23
Website
Brenau was founded as a women’s college. It maintains a woman-centered undergraduate program on campus in addition to its other programs. However, other programs, and all graduate and online programs at Brenau, do admit men. Brenau’s online BBA in human resources management offers courses like:
- measurement of human resource management
- cultural diversity in the business environment
- recruiting and selection
- research methods in organizations
- designing training programs.
- Tuition: $31,084
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $227,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #38 Regional Universities South
#20. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Score: 69.22
Website
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has an very forgiving transfer credit policy. It accepts credits from:
- regionally accredited colleges and universities
- business and industry training
- non-regionally accredited vocational and technical colleges
- military education
- CLEP or DSST exams.
You can also earn credit for your work experience and life experience through the prior learning assessment. This is a great option for non-traditional students. St. Mary’s only requires students to take 36 credits from the university to earn the degree. This means 84 credits can come from the sources listed above.
- Tuition: $36,670
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $385,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #33 Regional Universities Midwest
#21. Troy University
Score: 69.20
Website
Courses in Troy’s online BSBA in human resource management are offered in 9-week terms. Students take courses like:
- introduction to information systems and data analysis
- operations management
- global human resource management
- leadership/change
- managing in a global environment
- economics of globalization
- human resource development
- labor law and collective bargaining.
- Tuition: $16,708
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $244,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #52 in Online Bachelor’s Programs
#22. McKendree University
Score: 68.84
Website
The online human resource management degree (BBA) at McKendree utilizes a flexible 8-week course format. Students can take up to two courses during each 8-week session. Students looking to build on this degree often pursue graduate school, earning an MBA or JD (law degree). Students in this program can take courses like:
- international business
- organizational behavior
- business ethics and social response
- consumer behavior
- business strategy and policy.
- Tuition: $31,640
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $297,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #80 Online Bachelor’s Degrees
#23. Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Score: 68.82
Website
Students who transfer into this ACBSP-accredited online human resources degree with at least 56 credits can finish the degree in just 21 months. Courses are administered in a 5-week format. 90 credit-hours can be transferred into the program. Students take courses like:
- diversity for organizational performance
- human resource strategy
- training and development
- global perspective in business
- organizational behavior.
- Tuition: $11,940
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $198,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #66 Regional Midwest
#24. Grand View University
Score: 68.46
Website
Grand View University’s online business administration degree offers either a concentration or optional certificate in human resource management. The concentration is five courses. The certificate is six. Students take courses like:
- human resource management
- staffing, training, and development
- compensation and benefits
- employment law and labor relations
- organizational behavior,
- business ethics.
- Tuition: $30,508
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $213,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #33 Regional Colleges Midwest
#25. Wichita State University
Score: 66.91
Website
Wichita State University’s online BBA in human resource management is one of just a few AACSB-accredited online business degree programs. To earn this degree, 50% of your business courses must be completed at Wichita State. Students take courses like:
- fundamentals of human resource management
- employment law
- human resource staffing
- compensation
- training and development.
- Tuition: $10,172
- Graduation Rate: 77%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $293,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #204 Online Bachelor’s Degrees
#26. Concordia University-Saint Paul
Score: 65.10
Website
95% of graduates from Concordia University-Saint Paul are offered jobs in their field within a year of graduation. The average salary for graduates four years after graduation is $57,736 per year. This is a completion program, designed for students to transfer in with 80+ credits. Courses are offered in a 7-week format. The program has been acknowledged by SHRM as being in line with its curriculum suggestions and guides.
- Tuition: $12,600
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $331,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #143 Online Bachelor’s Programs
#27. Dickinson State University
Score: 65.55
Website
Dickinson State University has a very low, 10:1 student/faculty ratio, making it much easier for students to get individual attention when they need help. The BBA degree in human resource management online features courses like:
- human behavior and governance
- well-being
- labor relations
- human resource development
- compensation management
- staffing and workforce diversity.
Tuition: $11,044
Graduation Rate: 73%
20 Year Net ROI: $206,000
U.S. News Ranking: #48 Regional Colleges Midwest
#28. University of Maryland-Global Campus
Score: 64.81
Website
The University of Maryland’s global campus is an open-admission institution. This means anyone with a high school diploma or GED will be admitted automatically after they apply. There’s also currently no application fee. Students can transfer up to 90 credits. The online human resources degree offers courses like:
- organizational communication
- organizational culture and change
- the total awards approach to compensation management
- finance for the nonfinancial manager.
- Tuition: $12,336
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $546,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #293 National Universities
#29. Colorado State University-Global Campus
Score: 63.84
Website
The human resources specialization is available in multiple programs at CSU global. These include programs like human services and organizational leadership, in addition to the more traditional business program. Students take courses like:
- principles of human resource management
- labor relations and employment law
- organizational development
- leading through conflict resolution
- recruitment, selection, and employee development.
- Tuition: $8,400
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- 20 Year Net ROI: $398,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #11 Online Bachelor’s Programs
#30. Judson University
Score: 63.83
Website
Judson offers an online human resource management concentration as part of the BA in business administration degree. Students can expect to spend 15 hours per week on coursework outside of class time. The program can be completed in two years, depending on how many credits you can transfer. Courses include:
- critical thinking, research, and writing
- interpersonal effectiveness
- organizational and corporate finance
- financial accounting and analysis
- faith and life issues.
- Tuition: $29,870
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- 20 Year Net ROI: $181,000
- U.S. News Ranking: #72 Regional Universities Midwest
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay for my online degree?
In these hard times, this is even more of a major concern than it normally would be. The good news is that there are robust financial aid systems in place that should make earning your degree feasible. Indeed, it’s even the case that it’s the best financial decision you can make, even if you’re out of work. Financial aid for education isn’t just used to pay for your:
- classes
- books
- supplies
It can also be used to pay for your food and housing costs. This is true even if you aren’t living in dorms.
Financial aid is also often based on the cost of attendance. So if you factor the cost of rent and food, and maybe even Internet connection, you could end up with enough financial aid to support you while you earn your degree full-time. Using financial aid in this way is only possible if you are attending your college full-time. This is generally defined as taking more than 12 credits per semester. Make sure you fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible. When you evaluate the colleges that accept you, make sure you weigh the cost of the courses along with your cost of living. Make the best choice for your current circumstances. Also make sure to check out the many potential scholarships available to undergraduate students from private sources. We have lots of articles featuring great private scholarships on this website!
Are online degrees as good as traditional on-campus degrees?
Yes! Colleges and universities take great pains to ensure the degrees they offer online are the same quality as their on-campus counterparts. In most cases, courses are taught by the same professors. It’s true that some degrees, such as those in the hard sciences, require laboratories or specialized equipment. These might not be offered online. This is unfortunate. But colleges and universities are even finding ways to make that manageable. The bottom line is that there is no better time to start doing college online than now. Mams.
What do human resources professionals earn?
Depending on the industry, human resources managers earn a median salary of up to $131,340 per year. The median salary for human resources managers overall is $116,720 per year. But you probably won’t start out as a manager, as that requires 5 or more years of experience. The job growth rate for human resources managers is 7% between 2018 and 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s a bit more than average and equates to about 10,800 new jobs in the profession over that period of time.
Likely you will start out as a human resources specialist. Human resources specialist is the entry-level position for human resources professionals. The median salary is still $61,920 per year, which is pretty incredible for an entry level position. The job growth rate for human resources specialists is 5% between 2018 and 2018 according to BLS. This is about average. It equates to about 33,000 new jobs added in the sector over that period of time!
Should I get my master’s degree right away? Or should I wait?
Generally speaking it’s a good idea to get right into the workforce and wait on your master’s degree. You probably won’t land a human resources management job without any experience, even if you have a master’s. Waiting ensures that the information on policies and regulations in the master’s degree will be up to date once you are qualified for management positions. Plus, these days, with a ton of great online master’s in human resources management degrees on the market, it will be totally possible to earn your master’s without missing any work!
Sources
Overall University Rankings: U.S. News and World Report
Tuition and Graduation Rate: National Center for Education Statistics: College Navigator
20yr Net ROI: Payscale College ROI
Job Stats: Bureau of Labor Statistics
GCD Staff
August 2020
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