by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 660 U.S. colleges awarded 27,822 degrees and certificates in Human Resource Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 356 schools in its 2027 Best Human Resource Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $57,370 one year after completing, rising to $73,112 after four years.
It is impossible to have a successful business unless employees are properly trained, happy, and efficient. The work environment, hiring process, and work relationship are all important factors to a business's ability to thrive, making the role of Human Resource Manager critical to any business. These managers handle the staffing, training, pay, and policies of the workplace. By majoring in Human Resource Management, students will manage the progress of human capital in the workplace and provide services to these groups and individuals.
Some of the concentrations associated with this major are Labor and Industrial Relations, Organizational Behavior Studies, Labor Studies, and Human Resource Development.
There are a variety of courses you will take when majoring in Human Resource Management, they include employee and labor relations, organizational behavior, staffing, compensation and benefits, and statistics. This major is commonly offered as a Bachelor's Degree.
A major in Human Resource Management explores Human Resources Management And Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, human resource management draws strong interest, with 27,822 degrees awarded annually. 660 colleges award human resource management degrees, an average of 42 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,919.
By level, the 27,822 awards include 480 certificates, 2,746 associate degrees, 10,565 bachelor’s degrees, 13,645 master’s degrees and 322 doctorates.
Women earned 71% of human resource management degrees and certificates in the latest year (19,764 of 27,822). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (13,217) and Black or African American (5,020), and international students earned 883.
College Factual ranks 356 schools in its 2027 Best Human Resource Management Schools ranking, including 38 for associate degrees, 166 for bachelor’s degrees, 159 for master’s degrees and 8 for doctorates. It also ranks human resource management schools within 45 states. In all, 660 colleges offer human resource management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Human Resource Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common human resource management credential is the master’s degree: 13,645 of the 27,822 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to human resource management call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Personnel and Human Resources, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Those who work in the field of Human Resources need to be comfortable interacting with people. Your days will revolve around meeting the needs of others and making sure employees are satisfied. You will be working and meeting with others constantly, therefore strong communication skills are essential. You must be able to understand and listen to concerns and relay information to your superiors. Work on your interpersonal and communication skills while still in college in order to achieve success.
Students may benefit from an internship or work experience in any field where they interact with people. Customer service can be a great background to a job in Human Resources.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a human resource management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 480 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,746 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10,565 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 13,645 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 322 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to human resource management, at 54.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.2% |
| Master’s degree | 9.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.1% |
| Some college courses | 4.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.1% |
| First professional degree | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
19 occupations are related to Human Resource Management, with an average median salary of $86,723; the strongest outlook belongs to Regulatory Affairs Specialists, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator), Personnel Officer, Recruiting Coordinator and Job Development Specialist.
Graduates with a degree in Human Resources Management have the option to become Human Resources Mangers. These managers can work in virtually any type of industry and are in demand.
Graduates can also become a Human Resource Specialist. The specialist deal directly with the hiring processes of employees. They recruit, screen, and interview potential employees.
The occupation related to human resource management with the most projected jobs is Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping, at 1,062,982.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | 1,062,982 | 11.9% |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 405,890 | 11.8% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
Human Resource Management graduates earn a median $57,370 one year after completing their program, $73,112 after four years and $68,120 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,370 |
| 4 years | $73,112 |
| 5 years | $68,120 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to human resource management is Training and Development Managers, with a median salary of $139,524.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $129,587 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $107,570 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $90,840 |
Human Resource Management includes 7 concentrations that together award 27,822 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (18,294), Human Resources Development (3,511) and Organizational Behavior Studies (3,450). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 856,327 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 18,294 |
| Human Resources Development | 3,511 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,450 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations | 1,407 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 920 |
| Labor Studies | 147 |
| Executive/Career Coaching | 93 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,764 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
