by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 76 U.S. colleges awarded 3,511 degrees and certificates in Human Resources Development. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 37 schools in its 2027 Best Human Resources Development 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.
Studying Human Resources Development explores Human Resources Development. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Integrated Training, Organizational Development, And Career Planning And Counseling Skills To The Design, Management, And Evaluation Of Programs To Improve Individual Productivity, Employability, And Job Satisfaction And Organizational Effectiveness. Includes Instruction In Psychology; Organizational Behavior; Principles Of Adult Education; Occupational Counseling; Skill Testing And Evaluation; Program Design; Consulting Practice; Organizational Development; And Applications To Issues Such As Training, Management Development, Customer Service, And Total Quality Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., human resources development is a widely-pursued major, with 3,511 degrees awarded annually. 76 colleges award human resources development degrees, an average of 46 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,891.
By level, the 3,511 awards include 14 certificates, 1,796 associate degrees, 616 bachelor’s degrees, 1,050 master’s degrees and 35 doctorates.
Women earned 60% of human resources development degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,099 of 3,511). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,290) and Hispanic or Latino (527), and international students earned 63.
College Factual ranks 37 schools in its 2027 Best Human Resources Development Schools ranking, including 20 for bachelor’s degrees, 25 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks human resources development schools within 18 states. In all, 76 colleges offer human resources development programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Human Resources Development Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common human resources development credential is the associate degree: 1,796 of the 3,511 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to human resources development call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Recognition and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a human resources development degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 14 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,796 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 616 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,050 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 35 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to human resources development, at 78.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 78.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Human Resources Development, with an average median salary of $63,210; the strongest outlook belongs to Training and Development Specialists, at 11.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Older Worker Specialist, Development Coordinator, Computer Technology Trainer and Sales Trainer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to human resources development, at 622,945.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
Human Resources Development 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to human resources development, with a median salary of $63,210.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
Human Resources Development has 6 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 24,311 degrees a year; the largest are Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (18,294), Organizational Behavior Studies (3,450) and Labor and Industrial Relations (1,407). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 18,294 |
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
