2027 Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Master’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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for labor & industrial relations students.
What’s on this page:
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
Marshall University tops our 2027 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools in the United States. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $46,736. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in labor & industrial relations will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $20,778. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $89,637. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State University earned it the #3 place for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $24,213 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro earned it the #4 place for labor & industrial relations. Located in the city of San Juan, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,780. Students borrow a median of $13,190 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro generally make around $30,505. Set against $13,190 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for labor & industrial relations. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $20,460 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $92,241. Set against $20,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cleveland State University came in at #6 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $68,489. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Capella University landed the #7 spot for labor & industrial relations value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $36,121 in student loans. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $72,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan State University earned the #8 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $23,475. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $99,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $82,757. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #10 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,235, with out-of-state students paying around $15,185. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. Cuny Graduate School And University Center admits about 68% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #11 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $67,162 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University placed #12 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $112,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University earned the #13 position 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. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $108,030. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #14 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $82,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of New Haven ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Haven admits about 60% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #16 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
Other Labor & Industrial Relations Degree Levels
Explore the best-value labor & industrial relations schools at other degree levels:
View All Labor & Industrial Relations Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
