2027 Best Value Human Resources Development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Human Resources Development](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/human-resources-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human resources development education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value human resources development schools.
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2027 Best Value Human Resources Development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human resources development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Resources Development Schools
Leading the list is Oakland University, our #1 best value for human resources development in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $25,480. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $65,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value human resources development schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $14,054 to complete the human resources development program here. Human Resources Development graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $41,237 early in their careers. Set against $14,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for human resources development. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $25,422. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $51,570. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Illinois University earned it the #4 place for human resources development. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $24,293. Human Resources Development graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $43,603 early in their careers. Set against $24,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Green Bay one of the best values for human resources development. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $24,477 in student loans. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value human resources development schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $89,637. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #7 among the best values for human resources development. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $15,365 in student loans. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $49,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #8 for value in human resources development this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $20,000. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $55,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in human resources development this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the human resources development program here. Human Resources Development graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #10 position for value in human resources development this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $48,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Western Michigan University landed the #11 spot for human resources development value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human resources development program here. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $58,745. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #12 position for value in human resources development this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $25,821. Human Resources Development graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $60,575 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,821 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University earned the #13 position for value in human resources development this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $23,879. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $64,145. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Edgewood College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value human resources development schools. Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $35,860. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $26,750. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $56,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #15 position for value in human resources development this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $24,177. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
