2026 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in California
[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 50 schools to find the best return on investment for human resource management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human resource management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Resource Management Schools
For return on investment in human resource management, no school beat University Of California Los Angeles this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $63,833. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in human resource management will find it at Touro University Worldwide, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,640 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,289 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Touro University Worldwide generally make around $55,346. That is a strong return on a $32,289 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human resource management will find it at Azusa Pacific University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,458 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $52,927 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ashford University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,960. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $41,117. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $60,600. 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 University Of La Verne, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,470. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia landed the #6 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the city of Visalia, San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $15,407. Human Resource Management graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earn a median of $43,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,407 median debt.
National University placed #7 among the best values for human resource management. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from National University generally make around $73,848. Set against $30,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Marys College Of California placed #8 among the best values for human resource management. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. In-state tuition and fees average $57,803. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $25,041. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $59,760. Set against $25,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,540. Students borrow a median of $22,979 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of $70,676 early in their careers. Set against $22,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern California placed #10 among the best values for human resource management. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $94,625 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Pitzer College landed the #11 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pitzer College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,192. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Pitzer College earn a median of $40,668 early in their careers. Set against $18,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 25%.
University Of San Francisco placed #12 among the best values for human resource management. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,522. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $127,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Pepperdine University landed the #13 spot for human resource management value this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,918. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $113,702. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Santa Clara University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,293. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $20,144. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $79,380. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Santa Clara University admits about 48% of applicants.
More Human Resource Management Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
