2026 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in Iowa
[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human resource management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human resource management schools.
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2026 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in Iowa
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 Western Iowa Tech Community College this year. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 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 University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $46,054. Set against $22,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for human resource management. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. That is a strong return on a $23,495 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Iowa came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Students borrow a median of $23,149 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $52,945 early in their careers. Set against $23,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Waldorf College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human resource management, landing the #5 spot this year. Waldorf College is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the rural area of Forest City. In-state tuition and fees average $25,978. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $32,111. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $77,897. That is a strong return on a $32,111 median debt. Waldorf College admits about 77% of applicants.
Upper Iowa University landed the #6 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $41,006. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $53,694. That is a strong return on a $41,006 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dubuque landed the #7 spot for human resource management value this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,095. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from University Of Dubuque generally make around $48,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
More Human Resource Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
