Labor & Industrial Relations programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their labor & industrial relations programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for labor & industrial relations students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Labor & Industrial Relations School
Where you study labor & industrial relations matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Labor & Industrial Relations Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Labor & Industrial Relations Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Labor & Industrial Relations Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Labor & Industrial Relations in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the labor & industrial relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Cornell University this year for labor & industrial relations. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 316 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the labor & industrial relations program make about $92,864 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Cornell University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in labor & industrial relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 148 labor & industrial relations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their labor & industrial relations degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $89,637 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 60 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $64,052. Students borrow a median of $20,460 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in labor & industrial relations from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Students looking for a strong labor & industrial relations program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 41 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the labor & industrial relations program make about $78,014 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,475 to complete this degree.
See the full labor & industrial relations program report for Michigan State University
University Of Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in labor & industrial relations, ranking #5. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. About 126 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the labor & industrial relations program make about $52,945 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,149 to complete this degree.
Get the full labor & industrial relations details for University Of Iowa
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #6 for labor & industrial relations this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 122 labor & industrial relations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their labor & industrial relations degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $58,302 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Maryland Baltimore County landed the #7 spot for labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent data year. Students who receive their labor & industrial relations degree from University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn around $49,179 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete this degree.
See the full labor & industrial relations program report for University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #8 for labor & industrial relations this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 105 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their labor & industrial relations degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $72,158 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Seton Hall University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best labor & industrial relations schools. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 49 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Students who receive their labor & industrial relations degree from Seton Hall University earn around $80,158 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,032 to complete this degree.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Seton Hall University
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #10 among the best labor & industrial relations schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. There were roughly 139 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the labor & industrial relations program make about $70,821 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Suny Empire State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best labor & industrial relations schools. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Suny Empire State College graduates 36% of students within six years. There were roughly 90 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at Suny Empire State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the labor & industrial relations program make about $58,140 in their early career. Suny Empire State College graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans.
More information about a degree in labor & industrial relations from Suny Empire State College
Wayne State University earned the #12 position for labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Wayne State University awarded about 14 labor & industrial relations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their labor & industrial relations degree from Wayne State University earn around $48,324 in the first couple years of their career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $24,213 in student loans.
More information about a degree in labor & industrial relations from Wayne State University
Cleveland State University landed the #13 spot for labor & industrial relations this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 55 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at Cleveland State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $54,679. Cleveland State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Cleveland State University
Citrus College landed the #14 spot for labor & industrial relations this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Glendora. There were roughly 10 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at Citrus College in the most recent data year.
Get the full labor & industrial relations details for Citrus College
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras placed #15 among the best labor & industrial relations schools. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $24,881. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
Marshall University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best labor & industrial relations schools. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 labor & industrial relations students who graduated with this degree at Marshall University in the most recent data year. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $46,736 early in their careers. Marshall University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
See the full labor & industrial relations program report for Marshall University
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro came in at #17 for labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the city of San Juan, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 36% of students finish within six years. About 10 labor & industrial relations degrees were awarded at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro in the most recent year. Graduates of the labor & industrial relations program make about $30,505 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,190.
Read more about the labor & industrial relations program at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro
Labor & Industrial Relations Related Rankings by Major
Labor & Industrial Relations is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.
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).
