Best Online Master’s in Human Resources

Human resources is a great field for anyone who is passionate about shaping the culture of work, maximizing the potential of organizations, and helping people thrive.

HR professionals play a crucial role in attracting top talent, fostering employee engagement, and driving organizational success. On top of that, they love their work: A recent survey by the Society for Human Resources Management found that about 85% of HR folks are satisfied with their jobs.

Getting an online master’s degree in HR can give you all the latest industry knowledge about important topics like talent acquisition, performance management, employee development, and employment law. You can leverage that expertise into high-level positions with more impact and a bigger paycheck.

Whether you’re an HR professional looking to level up or are a working professional looking to transition into a satisfying new field, an online master’s degree in HR can help you accomplish your goals. Keep reading to discover which programs will get you the best return on your investment.

Students interested in earning a master’s in HR should consider several factors when researching prospective programs, including length, available concentrations, and cost. For example, public schools typically offer lower tuition rates than private schools, and in-state students at public schools generally pay the lowest tuition rates. However, many programs allow all online students to pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency.

Most online master’s in human resources programs take four years of full-time study to complete, but some programs offer accelerated timelines that allow students to graduate faster. Additionally, students with transfer credits should ensure their chosen schools offer generous transfer credit policies, which may save money and expedite graduation.

Students should also consider their career goals before choosing a program. Many programs offer concentrations that prepare for specific careers after graduation. Common concentrations include project management, organizational leadership, and recruiting and staffing.

With a bachelor’s degree in human resources, professionals can work as human resource assistants or specialists. A master’s degree prepares students for more advanced roles with more responsibilities and potentially higher pay, such as human resource manager, compensation and benefits manager, and top executive.

During a human resources master’s program, learners expand upon the knowledge and skills they developed at the bachelor’s level, studying advanced concepts like organizational strategy, employee hiring and retention, and employment law. Many master’s in HR programs also offer concentrations that allow students to tailor the degree to their interests and career goals.

Online master’s in human resources programs typically offer knowledge and skills in the following areas.

Earning a master’s degree in human resources prepares graduates for advanced human resource roles such as human resource manager, top executive, and compensation and benefits manager. Below, we cover several common roles and potential salaries for graduates of master’s in human resources programs.

It typically takes between 2-3 years to complete an online master’s degree in HR. Students who want to earn a degree even faster should consider accelerated programs.

Yes; an online human resources degree can be very valuable. It will help you to compete for senior positions where you will have the most influence and impact. According to SHRM, the five highest-paying HR jobs have salaries ranging from $196,000-$308,000 per year.

Yes. The BLS projects demand for human resources specialists to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032. Every company and every industry needs qualified HR experts.

Many human resources professionals report that helping employees navigate personal tragedies can be emotionally very difficult, though meaningful, work. SHRM also reports that finding — and keeping — talented workers has become more challenging during a period of especially low employee engagement.