2027 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in Illinois
[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for human resource management students.
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2027 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human resource management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Resource Management Schools
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for human resource management in Illinois. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Lewis And Clark Community College one of the best values for human resource management. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes College Of Dupage one of the best values for human resource management. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $17,746 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. 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 Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Springfield one of the best values for human resource management. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $53,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Harper College landed the #6 spot for human resource management value this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Governors State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $24,990. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #8 for value in human resource management this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $89,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
National Louis University earned the #9 position for value in human resource management this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $68,404. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $43,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Western Illinois University came in at #11 for value in human resource management this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $26,000. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $47,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #12 for value in human resource management this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $15,365 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,131 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University came in at #13 for value in human resource management this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $50,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Greenville College came in at #14 for value in human resource management this year. Set in the town of Greenville, Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,933 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Greenville College generally make around $36,911. That is a strong return on a $25,933 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $23,879. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $64,145. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Students borrow a median of $31,872 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $79,696 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,872 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University came in at #17 for value in human resource management this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $38,832 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $82,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College placed #18 among the best values for human resource management. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,699. Students borrow a median of $21,356 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $31,807. That is a strong return on a $21,356 median debt.
Devry University Illinois placed #19 among the best values for human resource management. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,008 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $43,684. Human Resource Management graduates of Devry University Illinois earn a median of $55,295 early in their careers. Set against $43,684 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #20 position for value in human resource management this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $23,521. Human Resource Management graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $65,656 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Human Resource Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
