2027 Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Labor & Industrial Relations](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/labor-and-industrial-relations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value labor & industrial relations schools.
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2027 Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the labor & industrial relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras the best value for a degree in labor & industrial relations in the United States. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $5,500. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn a median of $24,881 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Suny Empire State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in labor & industrial relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $58,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for labor & industrial relations. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $24,213 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $19,388 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $50,946. That is a strong return on a $19,388 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #5 place for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $40,869. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University placed #6 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Students borrow a median of $36,121 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Capella University earn a median of $72,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,121 median debt.
Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $23,475 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $56,501. Set against $23,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #8 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $58,884 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #9 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $23,149 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $52,945. That is a strong return on a $23,149 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #10 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $49,441. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cornell University placed #11 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $73,436. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Rider University placed #12 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,120. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Rider University earn a median of $40,941 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rider University admits about 79% of applicants.
Hawaii Pacific University earned the #13 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Hawaii Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Honolulu. In-state tuition and fees average $34,392. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $25,385. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Hawaii Pacific University earn a median of $49,182 early in their careers. Set against $25,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University came in at #14 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Students borrow a median of $23,032 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $52,285 early in their careers. Set against $23,032 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $58,884. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #16 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $58,568. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Other Labor & Industrial Relations Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Labor & Industrial Relations rankings across degree levels:
View All Labor & Industrial Relations Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
