by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their human resource management graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find where human resource management graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send human resource management graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in human resource management, no school beat San Jose State University this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $108,084 annually.
A rank of #2 makes University Of San Francisco one of the highest-paying schools for human resource management. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $157,232 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in human resource management will find them at Pepperdine University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from Pepperdine University make a median of around $113,702 per year.
Fielding Graduate University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in human resource management, landing the #4 spot this year. Fielding Graduate University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Barbara. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Fielding Graduate University typically earn about $114,324 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Golden Gate University San Francisco earned it the #5 place for human resource management. Set in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of Golden Gate University San Francisco earn a median of about $129,323 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California came in at #6 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,625.
University Of La Verne ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from University Of La Verne make a median of around $89,399 per year.
National University landed the #8 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of National University earn a median of about $91,710 a year early in their careers.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System landed the #9 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System typically earn about $88,903 annually.
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. California State University Dominguez Hills is a public school located in the city of Carson. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills typically earn about $59,702 annually.
Alliant International University came in at #11 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a private for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of about $92,813 a year early in their careers.
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia landed the #12 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Set in the city of Visalia, San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earn a median of about $45,756 a year early in their careers.
Devry University California placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for human resource management. Set in the city of Ontario, Devry University California is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Devry University California typically earn about $69,768 annually.
Ashford University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Ashford University typically earn about $57,539 annually.
University Of Phoenix California placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for human resource management. Located in the city of Ontario, University Of Phoenix California is a private for-profit institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from University Of Phoenix California make a median of around $69,835 per year.
San Francisco State University earned the #16 position for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Human Resource Management graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $46,041 a year early in their careers.
Azusa Pacific University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for human resource management. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of about $52,927 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their human resource management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 17 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.