2027 Best Value Human Resource Management Associate’s Degree Schools

[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human resource management students.
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2027 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human resource management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Resource Management Schools
El Centro College earned the #1 spot for value among human resource management schools in the United States. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #2 place for human resource management. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $13,736. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $52,194. That is a strong return on a $13,736 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for human resource management. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human resource management will find it at Tarrant County College District, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rio Salado College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $13,679. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Rio Salado College generally make around $48,564. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $42,177. That is a strong return on a $9,716 median debt.
Columbus State Community College came in at #7 for value in human resource management this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $9,041. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #8 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $11,886. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. Set against $11,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $30,227. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #10 spot for human resource management value this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $21,439. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. That is a strong return on a $21,439 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $11,384. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $35,981. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #12 spot for human resource management value this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Columbus Technical College placed #13 among the best values for human resource management. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,052, with out-of-state students paying around $7,262. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $37,936. Set against $15,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #14 among the best values for human resource management. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $13,663. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $45,651. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #15 for value in human resource management this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $14,923 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $40,006 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,923 median debt.
Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #16 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #17 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $12,307 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $45,383 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Empire State College placed #18 among the best values for human resource management. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #20 among the best values for human resource management. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $40,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeshore Technical College earned the #21 position for value in human resource management this year. Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $41,252. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College landed the #23 spot for human resource management value this year. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $7,199. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $14,829. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $42,410. That is a strong return on a $14,829 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $17,001. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Phoenix College landed the #25 spot for human resource management value this year. Phoenix College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $15,075 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 38 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human resource management value ranking:
Other Human Resource Management Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Human Resource Management rankings across degree levels:
View All Human Resource Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 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.