Best Online Human Resources Degrees of 2025
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Earning an HR degree can help you make a difference in the lives of employees and companies of all sizes. Human resources professionals can work in areas like talent acquisition, retention, and benefits packages. Their skills and expertise can be essential for building a positive company culture.
A bachelor’s in HR can prepare you to become a human resource specialist. HR specialists are in high demand, with jobs projected to grow faster than the average growth rate for all occupations over the next decade. Below, you can find the best online HR degree programs, average program costs, and career options for the next steps.
10 Best Human Resources Bachelor’s Degrees Online
Franklin University
Columbus, OH- 4 year
- Online
What You'll Like:
Franklin University's 100% online BS in human resources management allows you to earn a degree on your terms with nine annual start dates. The degree program aligns with the HR curriculum guidebook and templates of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), preparing you with HR best practices.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 124
- Programmatic Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education
Things We Love:
- You can lock in your tuition as long as you stay enrolled at Franklin. At $398 per credit for the 2024-2025 school year, the total tuition before scholarships is $49,352 for full-time study.
- The curriculum builds an understanding of essential candidate analysis techniques, compensation models, and training skills and methods to prepare you for key HR roles.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You can transfer up to 94 previously earned college credits.
- Franklin has a low 50% first-to-second-year retention rate and a 30% graduation rate.
- Franklin offers tuition assistance to the majority of its students.
- In-State$9,552
- Out-of-state$9,552
- In-State$16,080
- Out-of-state$16,080
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,044
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment95%
- AccreditationYes
St. Joseph's University-New York
- Brooklyn, NY
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
The online interdisciplinary BS in human resources from St. Joseph's University-New York prepares you to excel as an HR professional in any field. The program has an alignment agreement with SHRM. You can choose to pursue an online bachelor's in HR or add an MBA for a dual degree.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 120
- Programmatic Accreditation: None
Things We Love:
- The asynchronous online HR degree program gives you the flexibility to learn on your own terms.
- You can get credit for prior learning or experiential learning to graduate sooner.
- In addition to the core curriculum, you'll take 42 credits of specialized business courses and choose from a minimum of nine business elective credits.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- SJNY has a strong 82% first-to-second-year retention rate and a 64% graduation rate.
- SJNY observes that the growth of the HR management field is reflected in the demand from employers that offer SJNY students internships and jobs.
- In-State$31,760
- Out-of-state$31,760
- In-State$21,456
- Out-of-state$21,456
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate74%
- Students Enrolled1,046
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
Maryville University of Saint Louis
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Maryville University offers a 100% online bachelor's degree in human resource management that teaches the foundational principles of personnel management within organizations. You'll have a chance to learn from a curriculum that focuses on emerging HR trends and is aligned with SHRM standards.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 120
- Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Things We Love:
- The program emphasizes the skills needed to develop and maintain a company culture that supports employee well-being while aligning with corporate goals and values.
- Get practical experience from HR projects, simulations, case studies, and an optional internship.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You can apply with no fee and no SAT or ACT scores required.
- Maryville offers strong financial aid options and transfer credit-friendly admission to graduate in less time.
- For acceptance, you'll need a minimum high school GPA of 2.5 or a minimum 2.0 for any college credits.
- In-State$24,766
- Out-of-state$24,766
- In-State$14,346
- Out-of-state$14,346
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled9,883
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment83%
- AccreditationYes
Montreat College
- Montreat, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Montreat College's online BS in human resource management builds HR fundamentals while addressing legal and ethical issues in decision-making. The curriculum aligns with SHRM's guidelines.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 120
- Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Things We Love:
- Montreat has over 25 years of experience offering online degrees through the School of Adult and Graduate Studies to support students' degree completion.
- With six start dates each year, you can enroll when it best fits your schedule.
- Montreat can help you secure financial aid in the form of VA benefits, grants, scholarships, work study, and loans.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- The school and its degree programs are grounded in the Christian faith.
- You can apply to Montreat for free.
- In-State$30,250
- Out-of-state$30,250
- In-State$9,963
- Out-of-state$9,963
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled972
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Portland State University
- Portland, OR
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Portland State University offers the choice between a BS and a BA in human resource management. The curriculum meets SHRM criteria. PSU is also home to a SHRM award-winning student chapter of the Human Resource Management Association.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 180
- Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Things We Love:
- PSU's curriculum builds the skills you'll need to shape workplace culture, cultivate leaders, improve productivity, and use data to support long-range strategic objectives.
- With strong connections to the Portland Human Resource Management Association, PSU students can choose from more than 800 internships and jobs offered by corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, and other organizations each year.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You can complete the degree 100% online or opt to take some courses on campus for a hybrid program.
- PSU offers ongoing career development support to hone interviewing, resume writing, job search, and business etiquette skills.
- In-State$9,315
- Out-of-state$28,215
- In-State$15,048
- Out-of-state$26,040
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled20,519
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Immaculata University
- Immaculata, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Immaculata University's online BS in business and human resource management emphasizes a balanced business education in economics, business and employment law, management, and statistics. You can also choose a dual major or minor in business, finance, marketing, or economics to diversify your skills.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 126
- Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Things We Love:
- You'll build skills in competitive comparison, effective training, organizational efficiency, managing conflict, and leadership development.
- You can maximize previous coursework by transferring up to 72 credits and earn credit for workplace training.
- With seven-week accelerated classes, you could graduate in two to four years, depending on how many transfer credits you have.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- At $465 per credit for tuition for the 2024-2025 school year, the total program cost for full-time students is $58,590.
- IU has a higher-than-average 78% acceptance rate.
- In-State$26,900
- Out-of-state$26,900
- In-State$12,780
- Out-of-state$12,780
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled2,426
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Charleston Southern University
- Charleston, SC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Charleston Southern University offers a 100% online BS in human resources that aligns with SHRM requirements. The curriculum aims to prepare you for HR roles in corporate and organizational settings, nonprofits, and government agencies.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 125
- Programmatic Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education
Things We Love:
- The accelerated coursework means you could graduate in as little as 17 to 24 months.
- CSU's curriculum focuses on a critical understanding of labor relations, business law, and employee recruiting, training, and development.
- The program is designed for adults working full time, giving you the flexibility to take courses around other commitments.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- With tuition of $515 per credit for the 2024-2025 school year, total program tuition is around $64,000 for full-time students.
- You can access a variety of institutional, state, and external scholarships to help pay for college.
- In-State$29,490
- Out-of-state$29,490
- In-State$5,085
- Out-of-state$5,085
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled3,418
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
Metropolitan State University
- Saint Paul, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Metropolitan State University's BS in human resource management provides the flexibility to study online or in a hybrid format. To maximize your college experience, you can choose from minors in entrepreneurship and innovation, international business, management information systems, project management, risk management and insurance, or supply chain and operations management.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 120
- Programmatic Accreditation: None
Things We Love:
- Metro State's degree audit report can help you maximize transfer credits and plan your coursework.
- The curriculum aims to build knowledge and competence with HRM theories, principles, processes and practices to achieve individual and organizational goals.
- Metro State helps students connect with professional organizations to start building a network.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- With a high 96% admissions rate and free application, it is easy to get started.
- Tuition of $286 per credit for the 2024-2025 school year is among the lowest on this list.
- In-State$8,571
- Out-of-state$8,571
- In-State$9,828
- Out-of-state$9,828
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled6,294
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment86%
- AccreditationYes
Utah Valley University
- Orem, UT
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Utah Valley University offers an online BS in human resource management that can be tailored to your schedule and commitments. UVU's curriculum provides a broad business base to help you gain the tools and expertise to gain a competitive advantage in the job market.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 120
- Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Things We Love:
- For the 2024-2025 school year, out-of-state students enrolled in a fully online UVU bachelor's program pay a flat rate of $270 per credit, or $32,400 over four years of full-time study.
- The curriculum prepares you to adapt to changing economic and social environments while building research and scholarly understanding with oral and written communication.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- UVU has an open admissions policy, but you must apply.
- Students can qualify for more than 250 UVU-specific scholarships, as well as resident and nonresident scholarships.
- In-State$5,614
- Out-of-state$17,174
- In-State$9,152
- Out-of-state$22,382
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled44,653
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
Concordia University-Chicago
- River Forest, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Concordia University's accelerated degree programs are designed for busy professionals. Concordia offers a 100% online, flexible BS in human resource management. HR coursework includes workforce planning, business law, and organizational behavior.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 120
- Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Things We Love:
- The program offers numerous online resources, including instructor access, peer collaboration, networking, and job placement services.
- The curriculum builds a basic understanding of the fluctuating landscape of business structures, from corporate culture and global enterprises to small businesses.
- Concordia guarantees the same tuition while you work toward your degree.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You may transfer up to 90 credits from a regionally accredited community college or university.
- Concordia advises that you'll need to schedule your time carefully to meet the rigorous demands of the accelerated program.
- In-State$33,944
- Out-of-state$33,944
- In-State$9,399
- Out-of-state$9,399
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled5,029
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment86%
- AccreditationYes
Why Get an HR Degree Online?
Many students choose an HR degree because of the profession’s higher-than-average salaries, career advancement opportunities, and the ability to make positive impacts. Benefits of earning your HR degree online include:
- Meaningful Work: You can advocate for employees and resolve workplace conflict while creating functional, healthy work environments.
- Earning Potential: Human resources specialists earned a median of $72,910 in 2024, while HR managers’ median salary was $140,030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Growth Opportunities: The BLS projects the HR specialist and HR manager job fields will grow faster than the national average rate — 8% and 6% from 2023 to 2033, respectively, according to BLS data.
- Study at Home: Online human resources degrees give you the flexibility to earn a degree at home without relocating to a different state.
What You Can Expect in an Online Human Resources Program
A bachelor’s degree in human resources usually requires 120 credits and takes four years of full-time study. Earning a degree online gives you the flexibility to take asynchronous or synchronous courses and fit studying into your schedule.
Some HR programs are generalized in their focus, while others offer concentrations in areas like business administration or organizational leadership.
Courses in Human Resources Programs
Common classes in an online human resources program include:
- Employee Benefits: Students in this class learn about benefits packages, insurance negotiation, remote working policies, and attracting talent.
- Conflict Resolution: This course covers best practices for interpersonal communication, including how to prevent miscommunication and how to mediate conflicts in the workplace.
- Leadership in Human Resources: This class teaches learners to ethically and effectively lead teams by building knowledge about unions, employee rights laws, and strategies for navigating ethical dilemmas.
Choosing an Online Bachelor’s in Human Resources Degree: 4 Key Factors
When choosing an online human resources program, consider factors that can influence your online education experience. Here is an overview of other major considerations:
1. Program Format and Offerings
Programs can be synchronous or asynchronous. Some online schools use a cohort model where you and a group of classmates all take classes together in a predetermined schedule. Other institutions let you choose your own courses each semester.
Look for programs that fit your schedule and learning style. Research schools’ degree concentrations and minors if you want to specialize your knowledge toward specific subfields.
2. Accreditation
Seek schools with institutional accreditation from a recognized accrediting body. Institutional accreditation signifies that a school meets standards of academic excellence and is required for the school to qualify for state or federal financial aid. Employers typically prefer employees with accredited degrees.
Programmatic accreditation is optional, but demonstrates that a specific department or program’s coursework helps prepare students for jobs in the industry. While human resources programs don’t have their own programmatic accrediting body, HR is a business specialization, so you can look for programmatic accreditation from major business accreditors.
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and AACSB International are two of the most widely recognized business-specific programmatic accreditors.
3. Program Length
Most bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete, but you can finish your HR degree in as few as three years with an accelerated program. If you want a graduate degree, you can also complete a dual BA-MBA in human resources in 4-5 years. Part-time programs, which can take five years or more, can be helpful if you’re trying to earn your degree while working full time.
4. Cost
According to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of undergraduate tuition at public institutions in the 2023-24 school year was $6,944 for in-state students. Not factoring in annual tuition increases, this equates to a total of $27,776 for four years of undergraduate study. Private institutions typically have higher tuition costs than public institutions, but often come with larger financial aid packages.
Some colleges even offer reduced or in-state tuition for online students, which can make distance education more affordable. Applying for financial aid through private scholarships and grants, FAFSA, and your school can help lower tuition costs.Many undergraduate human resources degrees run as concentrations within business programs. The table below compares the average tuition costs of online and traditional, in-person business programs.
| Average Tuition for Online Business Programs | Average Tuition for Traditional, In-Person Business Programs |
|---|---|
| $10,473 | $16,941 |
Human Resources Salary and Career Outlook
According to Payscale data from February 2025, HR managers with under a year of experience earn an average salary of about $59,000 annually, while professionals with 10-19 years of experience average about $81,400.
Job title, employer, geographic location, and experience can all influence salary. For example, HR managers in New York earned an annual median wage of $171,440 in 2024, while those in Illinois only averaged $134,320.
| Careers Paths | Median Salary (2024) | Projected Growth (2023-33) |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Specialists | $72,910 | 8% |
| Human Resources Managers | $140,030 | 6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | $65,850 | 12% |
| Training and Development Managers | $127,090 | 7% |
| Public Relations Specialists | $69,780 | 6% |
Is Human Resources a Good Career?
Human resources can be a good career if it matches your professional goals and your skills. In this people-centered job, you can make positive impacts on your company’s culture. All HR-related careers offer higher-than-average salaries, with manager-level roles paying median salaries more than twice the national median wage for all workers, which was $49,500 in 2024.
Careers in this field are also in demand: The BLS projects job growth rates ranging between 6% and 12% from 2023 to 2033 for jobs in this field, all faster than the national average growth projection of 4%.
Frequently Asked Questions About Human Resources Programs
Yes, most employers require job candidates to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a closely related field. A master’s degree in HR can help make you a more competitive applicant and qualify you for more advanced roles. An HR degree with a specialization in data science, business, communications, or finance can prepare you for jobs in niche subfields of the industry.
